Published: Feb 17, 2012, 10:37 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 17, 2012, 10:37 AM (IST)
Sohail Tanvir… highest wicket taker in the first edition of the IPL but not wanted since then © Getty Images
By Raja Yousuf
Politics continue to have a big say in Indo-Pak cricket relations as Pakistani cricketers have been kept away from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
A detailed look:
First IPL:
Sohail Tanvir ended the inaugural edition of the IPL as the leading wicket taker. But Shoaib Akhtar complained that he hadnot receiving the contracted amount and promptly became the bad boy.
Second IPL:
India accused Pakistan of involvement in the Mumbai attacks, and the Pakistani cricket players paid the price when they were banned from the league. When Shahrukh Khan opposed the ban, he was threatened by Shiv Sena during the screening of his film “My name Is Khan.”
Third IPL:
The Pakistani players were invited to take part in the bidding process where they were badly snubbed. Out of the 11 Pakistani players, which included Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul, none were selected. What can be more insulting than inviting these players and then refusing all of them, even when they were badly needed?
Fourth IPL:
Nothing changed for Pakistan, and no Pakistani cricketers were included in the IPL. What amazes me is that despite this development, Wasim Akram agreed to coach the Kolkata Night Riders. Doesn’t representing Pakistan mean that if one unit is rejected, the others should boycott the league as well? It is a pity that Akram did not decline the offer.
Fifth IPL:
The ban continued this time as well. But the news of Azhar Mahmood purchase for $200,000 was shocking. How could he play in a country that is actively rejecting his teammates? What inspired Mahmood to present his British passport to the league and beg to be included? Was it in the spirit of diplomacy, or for monetary gain?
Lalit Modi recently admitted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) exerted undue pressure on the franchise for not selecting Pakistani players. He said in an interview “arm-twisting” was done by senior BCCI officials to prevent Pakistan players from being picked. It clearly showed that Pakistan players were kept out not because of lack of merit.
Avijit Ghosh, senior editor at The Times of India said: “Undeniably this is a shameful episode in Indian cricket history. And if it is a question of politics, then Indian authorities should have been upfront and open about it. Lalit Modi should at least say sorry to the Pakistani players.”
(Raja Yousuf is a graduate of Bahria University in Islamabad. He has a keen interest in cricket writing. The above article has been reproduced with permission from http://tribune.com.pk/ )
