PCB expects govt clearance for IPL players in few days

Karachi:

Pakistan Cricket Board expects a quick clearance of its cricketers by the government to play in next year's Indian Premier League after the IPL extended the deadline for sending the NOC to December 7.

IPL has extended the deadline for sending the NOCs of the Pakistan players by a week from the earlier November 30 and PCB chairman Ejaz Butt is hopeful that the government will give clearance of its cricketers in a few days.

"We are expecting guidelines and clearance from our government in next few days. As soon as the board gets clearance from the government we would start the process of sending NOCs to the IPL so that everything can be completed before deadline," he said on Thursday.

Butt denied media reports that IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had told him it was the responsibility of the PCB to get clearance from the Indian foreign ministry for Pakistani players to take part in the Twenty20 event.

"No Modi has made no such demand to us and in fact he is very keen to see Pakistani players take part in the IPL next year," Butt said.

"The IPL had first cooperated to extend the deadline for submission of NOC's to November 30 and now they have further extended it to December 7 which shows they want our players to feature in the tournament," he said.

Asked if he was worried the Indian government would not clear Pakistani players to take part in the lucrative league.

"No I don't think so this would be the case. Otherwise, IPL would not have shown interest in seeking NOCs from our players. I think the Indian government will clear our players for the tournament," Butt said.

The PCB chief said he was supporting the participation of Pakistani players to take part in the IPL as the event was being held in a window when they had no international commitments.

"It would also provide a good platform for the players to showcase their talent and promote Pakistan cricket," he added.