Pakistani judge says IPL snub was 'blessing in disguise'

Lahore: A Pakistani judge has described the snub given to the country's cricketers in the Indian Premier League auction as a "blessing in disguise" in view of their "pathetic" performance in Australia.
     
Justice Waqar Hasan Mir of the Lahore High Court made the remarks yesterday while disposing of a petition, which sought a ban on the screening of Indian films in Pakistan to protest the exclusion of their cricketers from the IPL 3.

"It's a blessing in disguise that the Pakistani cricketers were not selected in the IPL considering the pathetic performance by the national team during its recent matches in Australia," the judge said.

In his petition, petitioner Husain had requested the court to ban the exhibition of Indian films till the government seeks a public apology for the humiliation of Pakistani cricketers.

He said Pakistan was the world champion in Twenty20 format of the game but none of its 11 players in the auction was picked by any IPL franchise as the owners of the teams intentionally refrained from bidding for them. Husain claimed this act caused great humiliation to the players and to Pakistan.

The perceived snub had triggered protests by civil society groups and political parties across the country.

The Pakistan government had cancelled an election Commission delegation's visit to India and the Kabaddi Federation had also called off its team's scheduled tour of India to protest the snub.