Pakistan players hurt and angered by snub

[vinod2070]

Pakistan players hurt and angered by snub

Cricinfo staff
January 19, 2010




Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul were among the 11 Pakistan cricketers who were not bid for © Getty Images

The third IPL auction, held in Mumbai on Tuesday, has been overshadowed by a controversy arising from the fact that not a single Pakistani player of the 11 on the auction list - including several of the World Cup-winning team - was picked up. Pakistan's players have reacted with anger and attributed the blackout to politics; the IPL has said it was the franchises' decision and the franchises have explained it on grounds of cricketing strategy or availability during the tournament.

Though the players - including proven Twenty20 performers Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul and emerging talent Mohammed Aamer and Umar Akmal - had been given the go-ahead from the Pakistan government, franchises were said to be wary over whether the strained relations with India would affect their ability to get visas.

However, the inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL's final auction list, released on January 6, was on the basis of specific requests received from the franchises - every player on that list had to be officially sought by at least one franchise. It is not clear what changed in the franchises' thinking within two weeks.

The development has drawn sharp criticism in Pakistan. Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, the federal sports minister, said he had complained to his Indian counterpart over the incident. "I have phoned the sports minister of India and recorded a protest over the unjust and discriminatory treatment meted out to the Pakistani cricketers," Jakhrani told AFP. "The Pakistani ministries of sports, interior and foreign affairs had given political and security clearance to Pakistani players in time to play. It is indeed a matter of disrespect to…the champions of Twenty20 World Cup."

However, Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, was relatively unfazed. "It really does not bother us; what difference does it make to us if our players don't play in the IPL this season? They didn't play in the last season as well," he said.

Afridi, Pakistan's Twenty20 captain, was the first player up for sale on Tuesday but fetched no bids. He called it a snub to his country. "The way I see it, the IPL and India have made fun of us and our country," he said. "We are the Twenty20 world champions and for me the attitude of the franchises was disappointing. I feel bad for the Indian people who, I am sure, wanted to see us play in the IPL this year."

Abdul Razzaq, the allrounder, said politics and sports should be kept separate. "They have basically tried to hurt our cricket and image and this is most disappointing because I believe there should be no politics in sports," Razzaq was quoted as saying by PTI. "In the end it is the IPL which has lost out because the fact is our players have star value and are the best in T20 cricket."

The Pakistan government had not permitted its players to participate in last year's tournament due to security fears after the Mumbai attacks. The wrangling continued in the run-up to this year's auction; when the Pakistan players failed to procure the requisite NOCs, the IPL shut its doors on them for missing out on the December 7 deadline but relented when Pakistan's interior ministry cleared the players for participation in the IPL.

Tanvir, the best bowler in the inaugural IPL and an instrumental part of the Rajasthan Royals' title win, wondered why so much effort was put into getting the clearance from his country's board and government if none of the franchises wanted to buy Pakistan players.

"They mean to say none of our players are good enough to be in the IPL," Tanvir said. "I am sorry to say the franchises have taken a decision not based on cricketing sense but on political grounds which is a shame and has hurt the image of the sport."

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, said the apprehension over the availability of Pakistan players was the main reason for them being unsold. "Franchises are no more ready to spend $7-8 million on someone who won't be available for the tournament," he said. "It not only exhausted their purse but also wasted slots. They want only those players who would be available for the tournament. They are spending money and they want to get the results."

Shilpa Shetty, the co-owner of Rajasthan, echoed Modi's words. "We were not convinced about their availability and that's why we did not want to take any risk," she said. "If someone is not going to be available, why bid for him." She also said that though they had watched Tanvir over the past year, they were looking for a batsman.

The co-owner of Kings XI Punjab, Ness Wadia, had a different take, pinning the non-sale of Pakistan players to the lack of open slots for the franchises - 67 players were auctioned for only 13 vacancies. "I do not think that the Pakistan players were ignored purposely," he said. "Many Australian players were too not auctioned. In fact, last year we suffered because of Australia."

Since the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, political relations between India and Pakistan have been strained, and bilateral cricketing ties have been suspended.

[vinod2070]

India should have been more inclusive


There is plenty of anger in Pakistan over their cricketers being snubbed at the IPL auction
© Getty Images
IPL, being an Indian league, remains India-centric but a cricketing powerhouse like India should think bigger
Ramiz Raja
January 21, 2010


The IPL's auction hammer has hit Pakistan badly. Like a jilted lover, the cricket fan is heartbroken, confused and angry. The question he asks is 'How could the Twenty20 champions not have a buyer?' The league has a major presence in Pakistan, and the country's only sports channel beams the games live. Today, however, the mood has changed.

The other great import, Hindi cinema, has also come under pressure. The sports ministry and parliament have got the knives out, terming the selection snub as a great Indian conspiracy to insult the nation and belittle the status of its cricketers. The players seem to be on the same page as the politicians and the media. This is not cricket, they say. All hell has broken loose.

While it is quite possible that the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers would have divided Indian opinion, and invited controversy for the IPL, care should have been taken in easing them out of action. The task, though, could not have been easy.

The IPL was dealing with global stars with an elephantine ego, coming from a neighbourhood very sensitive to the decisions taken by either party. The best way out of such a volatile situation is to play with a straight bat, take a decision in advance and not when the crescendo has built up. The assurances of selection and the clearances given to them by the Pakistan government to participate in the tournament gave rise to false hopes among the fans and the media. The subsequent process of elimination was seen by the public as political and undignified.

However, there exists another school of thought in Pakistan which has criticised the players for displaying their keenness to play in the IPL, almost to the point of begging by auctioning themselves, knowing fully well the sentiment against Pakistan in India. Greed could have led to this desperation to participate in the tournament and if the players now think their dignity has been compromised, they have themselves to blame.

India are a cricket powerhouse, the international policeman of the game. Nothing moves without their consent. With status and stardom comes responsibility. India should have been more inclusive in this regard, and fiercely fought the case of Pakistan cricketers. This would have produced a healthy debate, perhaps controversy too, but in a more graceful fashion. But the IPL remains India-centric, and all decisions are made in keeping with Indian interests. Some would argue that the IPL, being an Indian league, is but natural to think Indian first. By all means, but rulers are remembered for thinking big.

[vinod2070]

Ijaz Butt 'highly disappointed' by IPL cold shoulder

Cricinfo staff
January 20, 2010




Ijaz Butt: "I agree this is a private event, but to be excluded without giving any reason is unfair." © Associated Press

The PCB has hit out at the IPL's organisers after none of the Pakistan players were sold in the auction held in Mumbai on Tuesday. There were 11 players, including proven Twenty20 performers like Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, up for grabs but the eight franchises stayed clear of any bids.

Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said, "We are highly disappointed because we were hoping they (Pakistan's players) would play."

Having figured prominently in the inaugural edition, the Pakistan players were absent from the second season in in South Africa, after their government did not allow them to travel to India - where the tournament was originally to be held - for security reasons. Though the players got the go-ahead from their government and the board for the third season of the IPL, franchises were said to be wary over whether the strained relations with India would affect their ability to get visas.

However, the inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL's final auction list, released on January 6, was on the basis of specific requests received from the franchises - every player on that list had to be officially sought by at least one franchise.

"The IPL had given us the mandate to get permission from our foreign office, to obtain other clearances and to finalise visas," Butt said. "We did all this, but it is a surprise that none of them have been taken at the auction.

"We have been trying to get in touch with the concerned authorities but with no avail. I have asked the sports minister to speak to his counterpart in India about this."

The snub has drawn criticism in Pakistan and Butt said he was aggrieved by the manner in which the players were treated. "I agree this is a private event, but to be excluded without giving any reason and without looking at the background is unfair. If they had told us we would have told the boys not to apply at all."

Butt's comments were a stark contrast to his relatively unfazed stance on Tuesday soon after the auction. "It really does not bother us; what difference does it make to us if our players don't play in the IPL this season? They didn't play in the last season as well," he had said.

[vinod2070]

I think the reaction in Pakistan is a bit extreme. This is just a domestic tournament, like country cricket.

Never seen anyone taking non-inclusion in Yorkshire as a snub to the country! What has changed?

[Singh]

Pakistan cannot blame India for IPL, non-state actors did it

DFI is witnessing a heated debate on the whole topic, and I have posted some blog posts which argue that India did wrong.

Personally, am sad going to miss seeing Sohaib Akhtar in action.

[vinod2070]

Originally Posted by Singh

Pakistan cannot blame India for IPL, non-state actors did it

DFI is witnessing a heated debate on the whole topic, and I have posted some blog posts which argue that India did wrong.

Personally, am sad going to miss seeing Sohaib Akhtar in action.

[Rafael]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

I think the reaction in Pakistan is a bit extreme. This is just a domestic tournament, like country cricket.

Never seen anyone taking non-inclusion in Yorkshire as a snub to the country! What has changed?

However, the inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL's final auction list, released on January 6, was on the basis of specific requests received from the franchises - every player on that list had to be officially sought by at least one franchise.

"The IPL had given us the mandate to get permission from our foreign office, to obtain other clearances and to finalise visas," Butt said. "We did all this, but it is a surprise that none of them have been taken at the auction.

This is the reason Vinod, franchises invite players, make him apply the visa, players get permission from the govt, and suddenly the IPL does not wants them anymore? why the sudden change in few weeks? Why would they invite them in first place if they had "availability issues"?

[Singh]

Originally Posted by Rafael

However, the inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL's final auction list, released on January 6, was on the basis of specific requests received from the franchises - every player on that list had to be officially sought by at least one franchise.

"The IPL had given us the mandate to get permission from our foreign office, to obtain other clearances and to finalise visas," Butt said. "We did all this, but it is a surprise that none of them have been taken at the auction.

This is the reason Vinod, franchises invite players, make him apply the visa, players get permission from the govt, and suddenly the IPL does not wants them anymore? why the sudden change in few weeks? Why would they invite them in first place if they had "availability issues"?

agree and the price feted at the auction would've included the risks.

[vinod2070]

Great to have you back Raheel!

Originally Posted by Rafael

However, the inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL's final auction list, released on January 6, was on the basis of specific requests received from the franchises - every player on that list had to be officially sought by at least one franchise.

"The IPL had given us the mandate to get permission from our foreign office, to obtain other clearances and to finalise visas," Butt said. "We did all this, but it is a surprise that none of them have been taken at the auction.

This is the reason Vinod, franchises invite players, make him apply the visa, players get permission from the govt, and suddenly the IPL does not wants them anymore? why the sudden change in few weeks? Why would they invite them in first place if they had "availability issues"?

My understanding is that only 11 players got sold (selected) out of 66. The 11 Pakistani players presumably didn't make it for the some of the same reasons why the other 44 didn't make it.

I don't hear Australians, WI or any others making an issue out of it!

[Rafael]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

Great to have you back Raheel!



My understanding is that only 11 players got sold (selected) out of 66. The 11 Pakistani players presumably didn't make it for the some of the same reasons why the other 44 didn't make it.

I don't hear Australians, WI or any others making an issue out of it!

Thanks, :)

Australians, WI, or any others are not World Champions. Pakistani is.
what sense does it make to select parnel and roach for $720,000 and 610,000 respectively whereas ignoring umar gul who is the best bowler of t-20 by far? and Shahid Afridi?

Btw have you ever heard of these southafrican and west indian names? Accept is, reasons are political!