Pak Revokes IPL NOCs to players

Karachi, Jan. 29: Retaliating to the snub at the Indian Premier League auction, the Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday revoked all the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued to its players for participation in the third edition of Twenty20 event.

The decision not only marks the hardening of PCB stand but effectively rules out the possibility of any Pakistani cricketer playing in this season’s IPL even if the franchisees want to rope them in as substitutes.
A statement from the board said all the NOCs issued to players for IPL-III stand revoked. “In future, if any player receives an invitation for participation in IPL events, the PCB will decide the matter on a case to case basis after consulting relevant government authorities,” the statement said.
The announcement comes on a day when Shiv Sena said it would not allow Pakistani players to play in the tournament and IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had also made it clear that no Pakistani player could play without his knowledge and approval.
All the 11 Pakistani players, including star all-rounder Shahid Afridi, went unsold in the January 19 auction in Mumbai, prompting angry reaction in Pakistan.
The auction fiasco threatened to snowball into a diplomatic row between the two countries with top ministers also being drawn into the controversy.
But in the last few days, there was a perceptible change in the mood with even home minister P. Chidambaram favouring the participation of the Pakistani players.
The home minister, speaking in his personal capacity, had earlier said that the exclusion of the Pakistani players from IPL was a “disservice” to the game.
A spokesman for the Pakistan sports ministry also said that in future if any Pakistan player gets an offer to play in the IPL he would have to approach the PCB which would have to seek fresh NOCs from relevant ministries, including security clearance and approval from foreign ministry.
“All the clearance we gave for the IPL now stands cancelled,” the official said.
There were unconfirmed reports that all-rounder Adbul Razzaq was approached by Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers but this development has effectively put paid to his IPL hopes.
The PCB, which has come under increasing attack for the IPL fiasco as well as the team’s disappointing show in the series against Australia, said that the decision to revoke the NOCs was not taken under any government instruction.
   
Fans demand PAk board chief’s sacking
Furious Pakistani cricket fans on Friday staged a protest and burnt bats and stumps after the team's defeats in the Test and one-day series in Australia, demanding the removal of cricket chief Ijaz Butt.
Around 250 young cricketers from various academies in Karachi chanted slogans against the team and the Pakistan Cricket Board during an hour-long protest under the banner of the “Save Pakistan cricket campaign”.
    — Agencies

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