Karachi: Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain, Shahid Afridi, has said that the absence of Pakistani players from the third season of the Indian Premier League is a loss for IPL and a blessing in disguise for Pakistan cricket since his team can now concentrate on their preparations for the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.

“I think the absence of our cricketers will not be good for cricket or the IPL,” said Afridi, who had played for Deccan Chargers in the inaugural IPL in 2008.

Afridi said that the Pakistani cricketers are disappointed that the Indian cricket authorities didn’t do enough to confirm the participation of the Pakistani players in the IPL.

“I think Pakistan has always been supportive of Indian cricket in the past which is why I was expecting them to be more positive towards us. But it seems that’s not the case as I personally believe that sports promote harmony and it would have been good for both Pakistan and India if our players would have been allowed to play in IPL,” Afridi said.

“It would have been good to make our IPL comeback next year but it is now clear that we won’t be able to do that. Now that it has been decided we are not playing (in IPL), we will have a perfect window to hold a proper camp and get ready for the Twenty20 World Cup,” Afridi was quoted as saying by The News.

The third season of IPL will be held in March-April next year preceding the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in May. Pakistan will be entering the World Cup as the defending champions after they won the second T20 World Cup in England earlier this year.

Besides Afridi, other Pakistani players who will be missing from IPL III include Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan Royals), Abdul Razzaq (Kolkata Knight Riders), Kamran Akmal (Rajasthan Royals), Umar Gul (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Misbah-ul-Haq (Bangalore Royal Challengers).

On Monday, IPL chairman Lalit Modi had ruled out the participation of Pakistani players in IPL III as Pakistan Cricket Board could not get the visas for their players before the deadline.

Tagged with: Indian Premier League, Karachi, Pakistan, Shahid Afridi

Related News Headlines

• Pakistani players will be part of IPL 4: Modi
• IPL is making fun of us and our country: Shahid Afridi
• Yousuf, Younis’ Pakistan careers over
• Younis, Yousuf get life ban; Malik and Rana Naved banned for one year
• Denied captaincy, Afridi threatens to quit side
• No Pakistani team in Champions League this year: Butt
• Afridi takes a cue from Tiger Woods, says has learnt his lesson
• Pakistan senators want stricter action against Afridi
• Only one player ruining team spirit and unity: Mohammad Yousuf
• Afridi should lead in all three formats but needs to learn the rules before that: Akram

Cricketain Latest

• Defending champions Deccan, new-look KKR kick off IPL
• The carnival begins: IPL schedule
• Hayden confident of winning IPL this year
• The Mongoose bat is here!
• Pakistan cricket is in turmoil: Akram
• After ban, Yousuf contemplating retirement from international cricket
• Bangladesh’s Raqibul Hasan announces retirement at 22
• Schedule for two IPL matches changed
• Sammy, Chanderpaul give West Indies 2-1 lead
• PCB takes a U-turn, withdraws ban on Younis, Yousuf