PCB Chief Blames Modi for Exclusion of Pak Cricketers from IPL
Squarely holding IPL commissioner Lalit Modi responsible for ignoring Pakistani cricketers, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ejaz Butt has said that it will not have any long term bearing on sporting ties between the two countries, reported IANS.
“This (decision to keep out Pakistani players) has nothing to do with Indo-Pak relations in cricket. This is between IPL and us. They have made a mistake, whether purposefully we don’t know. But I strongly feel it was a wrong decision on their part not to consider any of our boys,” Butt was quoted as saying
In last week’s auction for third edition of IPL, franchises did not bid for Pakistani players, which triggered a major spate between the two countries.
The PCB, in its latest move, has rescinded its no objection certificates to players take part in the IPL, meaning no Pakistani cricketer will be able to participate in this year’s games even if Indian team seek their inclusion at a later stage, report said.
Butt thinks ‘the responsibility is solely with IPL and Lalit Modi’, report said.
“IPL is giving statements against Pakistani players despite many people in Pakistan and India having asked us to move on. We still don’t know any reason why has this not been entertained yet by IPL,” he was quoted as saying.
Butt also questioned Modi’s ‘motive’ behind the controversy, said report.
“You must ask Modi about the motive. Why he did this we don’t understand. I don’t think anybody in India or Pakistan understands this. I spoke to Modi in London during the T20 World Cup. He explained the reasons why the boys were not considered in South Africa (last year). I understood and then he assured me all would be playing in next IPL (IPL3),” he was quoted as saying.
