IPL Row: Now Pakistan stops its players

Karachi:

In an apparent retaliation to the snub at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revoked all the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued to its players for participation in the third edition of Twenty20 event.

The decision effectively means that no Pakistani cricketer can now take part in this season's IPL even if the franchises want to rope them in as substitutes.

A statement from the board said all the NOC's issued to players for IPL 3 stand revoked.

"In future, if any player receives an invitation for participation in IPL events, PCB will decide the matter on a case to case basis after consulting relevant government authorities," the statement said.

The announcement comes on the same day that the Indian hardline party Shiv Sena said it would not allow Pakistani players to play in the IPL and IPL commissioner Lalit Modi also said that no franchise could pick Pakistani players 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.

A spokesman for the sports ministry also said that in future if any Pakistani 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 with a contract offer but this development has effectively sealed his fate.