Akram can't do commentary in Champions League: Indian govt

Karachi:

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has lost his commentary assignment for the Champions League because the Indian government doesn't want it, media reports alleged here on Sunday.

A report in the "Jang" daily newspaper claimed that Akram, who is in South Africa for the Champions Trophy, was set to fly to India for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament starting from October 8 but his service is not required now.

"At the last moment he was informed by the organisers of the tournament that his services were no longer required in the tournament," the report said.

"Wasim was surprised to learn about this and was later explained unofficially that the Indian cricket board had told the organisers to avoid inviting Wasim to India because of policy instructions from the government," the report claimed.

Interestingly, Akram was invited by the Pakistan Cricket Board to supervise a fast bowlers' coaching camp in Lahore in October but he declined the offer due to his commentary commitments in the Champions League tournament.

The former fast bowling great had told reporters in Johannesburg that before inviting him, the Pakistan board should have confirmed his availabilities.

The report claimed that the BCCI had been advised by the Indian government that since no Pakistani player or team was featuring in the Champions League, it should avoid unnecessarily inviting former and present Pakistan cricketers to India for any job.

The report didn't clarify whether Akram would still be going to India to hold a short coaching camp for the Kolkata Knight Riders players.

Akram had told reporters in Johannesburg that he had been asked by the KKR management to hold the camp when he visited India for the tournament.

Relations between Pakistan and India have worsened since the Mumbai terror attacks last November.