IPL snub could affect India-Pak relations: PCB

Karachi:

PCB chairman Ejaz Butt on Wednesday said the treatment meted out to Pakistani cricketers during the Indian Premier League 3 auction could also have a bearing on the normal Indo-Pak cricket relations.

He told reporters that although the IPL was a private league, still the way Pakistani players were treated could affect cricket relations between the two neighboring countries.

"We might not have bilateral cricket relations with India at the moment but in future after this IPL episode, obviously we will prefer to seek government advice and clearance before agreeing to playing against India," Butt said.

He said the PCB was totally dismayed and disappointed at what transpired in yesterday's IPL 3 auction, especially after the assurances given by the Twenty league about Pakistani players getting a fair chance to play in the tournament.

"We saw the IPL as a step towards trying to normalise cricket relations with India. Thet is why the board was also keen about the players participation in the IPL. We also had the financial benefits available to the players in mind," he said. .

Butt said he was more disappointed with the fact that although the Indian Sports Minister MS Gill spoke to him after the IPL auction episode, IPL commissioner Lalit Modi was still not responding to his calls.

Butt reiterated that Pakistan was keen to resume bilateral cricketing ties with India, even at neutral venues but insisted after yesterday's incident it would now consult the government on everything involving the neigouring nation.

"Obviously everyone feels disappointed at the fact that none of our world class players were thought worthy of drawing a bid at the auction, no one is willing to accept this at all," he said.

Butt said he would be meeting with government officials soon to discuss the issue and finalise a future strategy.

Director general of PCB, Javed Miandad said that the board should take up the issue with the ICC.

"There is a need to push the ICC to start supervising and controlling these private Twenty20 tournaments. If the ICC is in control it would atleast ensure equal representation to all member countries and no one could mistreat any player," he said.

Miandad said he had warned before hand that the mushrooming of the IPL would lead to problems in international cricket.

"And these problems will continue to grow because too much money is also changing the way cricketers are planning their careers," he said.