IPL is making fun of us and our country: Shahid Afridi

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: January 20, 2010

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Karachi: Pakistan cricketers have reacted angrily to being ignored at the third Indian Premier League auction, where no franchisee bid for any Pakistani player, saying that the attitude of the IPL authorities was disappointing and that the entire fiasco seems to be a political conspiracy.

Pakistan’s Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi, who is considered one of the most destructive batsman in this format of the game and was being touted as a hot pick at the auction, said from Brisbane that he was disappointed and upset at the way things have panned out.

“The way I see it, the IPL and India have made fun of us and our country by treating us this way,” Afridi said. “We are the Twenty20 World Champions and for me the attitude of the franchises was disappointing. I feel bad for the Indian people who I am sure wanted to see us play in the IPL this year,” Afridi said.

Afridi was the first player to be put up for bidding with a base price of USD 250,000 but no franchisee was interested in buying the explosive all-rounder.

The franchises went for England and Australian players, even though they wouldn’t be available for a major part of the tournament, while ignoring the 11 Pakistani players that were available in the auction for sale.

The franchises in their defense said that Pakistani players’ availability was not certain and they couldn’t risk their money on them.

Afridi was among the batch of Pakistani players who have already played in the first edition of IPL when he represented Deccan Chargers. Senior all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who was also among the players in the auction, said that the snub to Pakistani players seems like a conspiracy between the IPL and Indian government to insult Pakistan players.

“They have basically tried to hurt our cricket and image and this is most disappointing because I believe there should be no politics in sports,” Razzaq said.

He went on to question the inclusion of Pakistani players in the auction list if the franchises were not interested. “In the end, it is the IPL which has lost out because the fact is our players have star value and are the best in T20 cricket,” he added.

All-rounder Sohail Tanvir, who was the star performer for the Rajasthan Royals in the first edition of IPL, winning the best bowler award and playing a big role in Rajasthan Royals’ title win, said he felt humiliated and angry with what transpired at the auction.

“They mean to say none of our players are good enough to be in the IPL. I am sorry to say the franchises have taken a decision not based on cricketing sense but on political grounds which is a shame and has hurt the image of the sport,” Tanvir said.

He too echoed the sentiments of Razzaq, saying that if the IPL and franchises had reservations over having Pakistani players in India, they should have made it clear beforehand.

“Why create all this fuss about visa requirements and government clearances. If they don’t want us they should be clear about it in the first place,” Tanvir said. “We sent names because we thought the franchises wanted us but if it is all about politics and security they should be clear about it.”

Reactions were not limited to just the cricketers who were ignored at the auction. Pakistan’s minister for sports, Ejaz Jakhrani, said he was surprised over the way Pakistani players had been snubbed.

“I am surprised and disappointed at the way we have been treated. It is not a good sign for improving and enhancing sporting ties between the two countries,” Jakhrani said. “We gave them security clearance as well so it was surprising the way they were snubbed at the auction because they are the best in the world in Twenty20 cricket.”

Jakhrani said he would also ask the PCB to explain why the players were treated this way even though the government had given required clearances to the players.

PCB chairman Ejaz Butt, however, said he was not bothered by the snub given to Pakistani players and it doesn’t matter if Pakistani players play in the IPL or not. “It really does not bother us… what difference does it make to us if our players don’t play in the IPL this season. They didn’t play in the last season as well,” Butt said.

Butt added that the PCB’s responsibility was to clear the road for the Pakistani players to be available for the auction and it had done that. “We got the required clearances from our government. But after that we can’t interfere in anybody’s work… so what can we say,” Butt added.

Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja, however, was much more vocal in his take on the auction.

“I think the IPL and the Indian government have lost a golden opportunity to help improve ties between the two countries,” the former captain said. “I really do believe there were political reasons behind the way our players were snubbed at the auction and it is most unfortunate.”

Legendary Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir said it is time the PCB organised its own league. “If need arises, we should hold this league even at a neutral venue and try to invite as many Indian players as possible to give out a clear message we don’t mix sports with politics,” he said.

Former Test captain Zaheer Abbas pointed out that the Pakistani players must realise that IPL is a private league. “The fact is that IPL is a private enterprise and if their franchises are not willing to take our players what can anyone do. But there is no doubt that our players and Pakistan cricket have been humiliated and insulted at such a big forum in a planned manner,” he stated.

Zaheer, however, added that if the Pakistan board felt the Indians had done wrong then they should announce a complete boycott of ties with India. “Our players and officials should also not go to India for any reason. But if we want a betterment of ties with India then we should just keep quiet,” he said.

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