Pakistani cricketers snubbed at IPL auction

Whether it was a concerted action by the IPL franchisees or the possible threat posed by political parties, much to the shock of Pakistani cricketers there were no takers for them at the Indian Premier League (IPL) III auction in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Pakistani players heard about their IPL fate when they were travelling from Hobart to Brisbane where they begin their One-day series against Australia from Jan 22. Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi spoke up for his demoralised teammates when he said they were hugely disappointed at being left out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) III.

Pakistani players were tipped to be the hot buys at the IPL auction with eleven of them including Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naveed-Ul Hasan and Imran Nazir -- who were part of the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL) -- on the list but they were ignored by the franchisees. Afridi said Pakistan players have a good fan following in India and wondered whether the Indian government had influenced the franchisees' decision.

There was a hushed silence among Pakistan players when the name of the Pakistan Twenty20 World Cup star player Afridi, who was expected to be a top draw in the auction, was announced first. After that it was clear that none of the Pakistanis would be picked, though Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach Wasim Akram was said to be keen on getting fast bowling sensation Mohammad Aamer. The Akmal brothers -- Kamran, who played for Rajasthan Royals in the first edition, and Umar, who scored a century on his debut against New Zealand -- met the same fate.

"Cricket is like religion in India and Pakistan. Sport is the only way to bring both the countries together. It is disappointing," Afridi told a television channel from Hobart. Pakistani players missed the IPL last year after relations between India and Pakistan soured post-Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008. However, their players were registered for auction this time after a delay in Pakistan government clearing them to play in the Twenty20 tournament and India granting them the visas.

Pakistan's federal minister for sports Ejaz Jhakhrani is upset that none of their cricket players figured at the auction and feels that it is not a good sign for the sport.

IPL chief Lalit Modi, however, did not want to read too much into the Pakistani players missing out. "There were so many players left out in the auction and each team had its own strategy.

I have no reason to believe there could be any other reason," Modi said. "Availability of the players was a key issue with the franchisees without doubt," he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by at least two team owners, who categorically stated that the Pakistanis were not favoured because they did not fit into their scheme of things and not because of any security concerns.

Actress and Kings XI Punjab owner Preity Zinta said "Every team went into the auction with a strategy. Availability of the players for the entire season was one of the factors we took into account."

Explosive West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard and ageing Kiwi paceman Shane Bond turned out to be the most expensive players, sold for a whopping $750,000 (approx Rs 3.42 crore) in the auction.

- Asian Tribune -