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LAHORE: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and BCCI’s vice-president Rajiv Shukla has assured that Pakistani cricketers will be allowed to take part in the next edition of the cash-rich league, former PCB chief Ijaz Butt disclosed it to Dawn here on Friday.
“With the consent of the incumbent PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, I met Rajiv Shukla and former president of the BCCI Sharad Pawar in New Delhi recently and discussed the progress on the Indo-Pak cricketing relations,” said Ijaz, who reached Lahore on Wednesday and met Zaka Ashraf on Thursday to inform him about the developments.
“In New Delhi, Rajiv Shukla has assured me that Pakistani players will be allowed to play in the next IPL edition,” Ijaz said.
“I informed Zaka Ashraf about the entire situation and now the chairman will take his own decision according to the situation,” he said.
Barring the inaugural edition of the IPL, no Pakistani player has been assigned to play in the IPL, mainly in the wake of the Mumbai attacks of December 2008.
However, now the ice is breaking as the BCCI has already allowed the Pakistan T20 champions Sialkot Stallions to feature in the upcoming Champions League for the first time.
To a question, Ijaz said though some ifs and buts were yet to be cleared for the resumption of the bilateral cricket series, the visit of PCB chairman to India this week to witness IPL’s final in Chennai will be a good occasion for the two cricket boards to reach a consensus on the issue.
It may be mentioned that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced on the occasion of the World Cup 2011 semi-final between Pakistan and India in Mohali that Indian cricket team would go to Pakistan for a short tour. However, the tour never materialised.
Recently, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari in his one-day trip to India had discussed the resumption of ties and there was a report that Manmohan had issued strict orders to the BCCI for making effort on the resumption of cricketing ties with Pakistan.
However, many doubts still exist over a possible Pakistan-India cricket series in the near future as no concrete step has been taken by either the BCCI or the Indian government to revive the cricketing relations.
The PCB’s financial position has also suffered considerably due to absence of any international cricket at home.
In a recent interview with Dawn, Zaka had admitted that the financial position could be strengthened tremendously if India and Pakistan revive the bilateral series.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (54) Closed
May 26, 2012 09:46pm
we dont need paki
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May 26, 2012 08:57am
I request to BCCI/PCB and Govt of India/Pakistan to send India cricket to Pakistan.This step would slap on terrorist groups which do not want to keep pleasure environment.
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May 26, 2012 09:20am
No big deal. We are not dying to play expect invited with respect.
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May 26, 2012 09:36am
Sports should kept away from politics and a short series must be arrange between the two sides in both countries.
Sports can and will play a role to bring people of both side close to each other and will spread a message of love and friendship.
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May 26, 2012 09:51am
hahaha....
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May 26, 2012 10:00am
Ask the players
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May 26, 2012 10:22am
PCB Chief ijaz Butt? Isn't it Zaka Ashraf? :-)
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May 26, 2012 11:10am
really good thinking Anand .if india government takes this step it will really help both countries
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May 26, 2012 11:25am
really .....!!!
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May 26, 2012 11:30am
Best Joke of the day. Dear Go and ask your players whether they are dying or not..... :) :)
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May 26, 2012 11:35am
Both India and Pakistan have plenty of other nations to play as opposed to playing with each other. The last time Indian prime minister visited Lahore, militants were in full swing crossing the kargil. Laskar's chief roams around freely in Pakistan no matter who accuses him of what. After initial lies the Bombay terrorists are proven to be trained and sent from Pakistan as well. India is expected to bear all this and play cricket with Pakistan. Blood stains take a long time to heal.
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May 26, 2012 12:38pm
do u know how to play cricket... i never heard of any such pakisthani cricketer named ozair :) ...
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May 26, 2012 01:10pm
Mumbai indians buy that Saeed Ajmal next year he is damn important player.
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May 26, 2012 01:17pm
If there is any truth to this story then it is good for Pakistan Cricket. Otherwise, I don't trust Butt. His credibility is in the past and now is very questionable. Why PCB allowed him to discuss management issue with other cricket authorities.
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May 26, 2012 01:20pm
PCB should not allow it's players to participate in IPL. IPL is a hub of fixing and I am sure the pakistani players will be framed and caught as the first major fixing case in IPL. Inclusion of pakistani players in IPL is BCCI's need to renew the concept and add some buzz to it as the recent episodes of corruption, violence etc has taken a bit of glance off it.
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May 26, 2012 01:57pm
Pakistani cricketers are very much loved by Indian public, it is politicians who make the all wrong noises. You can see the love in the field of arts, where pakistani actors and singers rule the charts. Let us welcome the cricketers too,,,,,, why should only they be the victims of our political problems.
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May 26, 2012 03:27pm
PAKISTANI PLAYERS NOT PARTICIPATING IN IPL IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE FOR PAKISTAN CRICKET AS IT WILL COME UP WITH ITS OWN PLANS FOR CRICKET IN THE COUNTRY. PPL IS ITS EXAMPLE AND WILL BE RIVAL TO IPL. INDIA DOESN,T WANT A RIVAL OF ITS LEVEL BELIEVING IN ITS HEGEMONY.
PLEASE DONT PARTICIPATE IN IPL FOR THE SAKE OF PAKISTANIS INTERESTS AND DON,T UNDERMINE PAKISTAN CRICKET. THIS VACCUM OF CIRCKET WILL SOON BRING THE SPRING OF PAKISTANI CRICKET IN PAKISTAN. INSHALLAH.
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May 26, 2012 03:42pm
AND you areNot Welcome TOO. IPL was Without Pakistani player for 4 seasons and It can continue for another 10 seasons without Pakis.
WHO is Rajiv Shukla??? He cannot amke Decisions on Behald of Indian Govt ,
We Don't want to see Pakistani Team on Our Soil AS Shahid Afridi Said We Indians Are People without Big Heart " So let it be SO, our Hearts are Still Small.
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May 26, 2012 04:02pm
what violence?
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May 26, 2012 04:21pm
hahahaha....respect...lolz....!!!!
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May 26, 2012 04:31pm
hahaha....lolz.. it's not india who needs pakistan...it's pakistan aho needs india..what do u mean by pcb should not alloow players to participate////it's bcci who decides whether to play them or not...////..pcb is already knoking door of bcci
, n when bcci opens the door how can you expect that pcb will turn around,,n atleast one shud not point fixing when thier former captain is still jailed,, to those player who didn't even played one match,,, not even playing in ipl..
it's jus cuz of improving relations b/w both countries...but people like u will always interfere with pity comments,,it's jus bcci mercy towards u,, when cricket is on the stage of defunct in pakistan..when team like bangladesh don't wantsto play in pakistan n srilnaka don't wants to host pakistan...so, appericiate these kinda decisions instead of posting hatred comments,,cuz i'll not throw flowers on u in return to your stones..it's u who is in trouble in bcci helping,,,not us.//
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May 26, 2012 04:34pm
we are pushing u back...n your player came back with british passports.//
so, i expect pakistan will refuse this offer,,, please do this,,, please refuse the offer,,,
i don't wants any pakistani in my city's team...///please please please////
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May 26, 2012 04:42pm
IPL has now most corrupt and problem face of T20 cricket keeping in view current scandals. Now I would suggest to PCB to hold its dignity and say no for our players participation in IPL. We should not be acting like dying to play IPL as it could further degrade PCB and above all Pakistan's image if our player participates in it. IPL is all about money and money should be traded with Pride of our homeland. I also urge our players to say no to IPL to keep the pride our country.
PS: we should not forget that its India's trategy who have alieneated from Çricket in Pakistan.
Long live Pakistan
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May 26, 2012 04:52pm
ozair ..really?? !! no big deal??. yes..it is'nt ...it is'nt a big deal even if the world cricket fraternity declines to tour pakistan...it still is'nt a big deal for u guys huh??:)
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May 26, 2012 04:58pm
BCCI had promised in past for sending their team to Pakistan but due to the opposition from political parties it did not materialized.The need of hour is the political will to take a bold step.Sport activities has a lot of following in both countries.They can bring two countries together. We should encourage such efforts.We hope that these efforts will bring good result.
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May 26, 2012 05:47pm
lol
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May 26, 2012 06:16pm
No need to participate in IPL, learn from previous lessons.
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May 26, 2012 07:01pm
Cricket and Sports will be the winner. Both countries should not allow extremists to dictate terms and put up a fight. I have never had lost all interest in IPL from the time Pak players were discriminated.
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May 26, 2012 07:04pm
thanx alot Anand for ur warm regards.
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May 26, 2012 07:06pm
thanx ved
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May 26, 2012 07:52pm
Sorry no. The brave Sri Lankan cricketers tried to do that and we know the results. The law and order situaion in Pakistan has to improve much more before Indian cricketers can play in Pakistan.
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May 26, 2012 07:52pm
India is democracy.. people like Shukla and Powar are politicians. Power comes from Maharashtra and it is same state where 26/11 happened. Public opinion will not let Pakistanis join IPL as long as radicals run amok in Pakistan. Pakistanis like Butt have you believe that Indian have longing for peace. Just look comments by Indians on various forums, other than stake holders such business man, artists, few glory seeking politicians and individuals, there is no urge among Indians to mingle with Pakistanis. Jihadist in Pakistan are glorified and revered while in India and in rest of world they are hunted and shot on sight. Most Pakistani players and artists yearn to play in India and once they have played and return to Pakistan, they start calling names and show their hatred towards India and Hindus. It is the duplicity and confused nature of Pakistanis that will keep them away from IPL and Indians.
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May 26, 2012 07:53pm
Whis is 'we'? Ask a Pakistani cricket player if he is dying to play in IPL.
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May 26, 2012 08:09pm
If they have any national pride as a nation and human they will never participate in any IPL edition. When Pakistani plays they will use them and accused them of fixing mark my words because BCCI wants to do some face saving by Protecting there super stars.
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May 26, 2012 08:32pm
IPL should come after international matches between the two nations. IPL insulted Pakistani players on BCCI's instructions. Cant just shrug our shoulders and say yes to IPL now.
Sadly, cricket is more Political than politics itself.
IPL will be a disgrace to this game very soon
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May 27, 2012 02:14am
We don't need you either buddy. Why bother visiting this site everyday to comment?
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May 27, 2012 02:58am
IPL is the richest tournament and pays so much that a player earns for whole life. So please let Pakistani players also enjoy and earn. Please don't play politics. Who knows that one day both the countries enjoy very sweet relations.
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May 27, 2012 03:21am
Pakistan will first of all need to take a bold step and arrest the terrorist mastermind. It can't be just one sided.
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May 27, 2012 03:24am
pakistani tean is always most welcum but please dnt allow afridi to enter india..he had publicaly humilated india and indian public
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May 27, 2012 04:08am
Who Cares?
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May 27, 2012 04:09am
We Don't NEED Pakistani Cricket Team or Cricketers on Our SOIL Leave US Alone We are Happy WITHOUT ANY or NIL Relationship with Pakistanis.
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May 27, 2012 04:42am
IPL is an independent commercial franchise ther to make money, if the Brand pakistani IPL doesnt sell or bring in the dough they have all the right to reject a bad product. Except for shahrukh khan, no franchise is interested in the pakistani players.
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May 27, 2012 05:00am
you seem to be very funny man!!
You are respectfully 'not' invited to play in our teams !! Thanks for 'not' coming.
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May 27, 2012 05:28am
I wish there are more people who share same views as yours in pakistan which is the only way to bring a change. But sadly majority of the population still proud of the current sitiation and defends people like Hafeez saaed. It would be a wonderful sight to see pakistani players playing as a team with indian players. I was at one of the IPL matches in mohali where Azhar mehmood was playing and everytime he wud b near the fence people wud cheer hm up which is nice to see. I hope pak govt takes some bold decision which in the longer run can save the country from isolation...cheers!!!
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May 27, 2012 06:28am
Now here is the difference between Pakistanis and Indians... you go on an indian forum and you will find nothing but hatred for Pakistan and if you try to say something aggressive about India, the moderator never posts your comment and here on a Pakistani forum these indians are saying whatever they want against Pakistan ...no problem... while the tone of Pakistanis towards Indians does not seem as agressive as of those Pakistan bashers on the Indian forums .
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May 27, 2012 09:49am
It's all about money....not nationalist sentiments.....pathetic comments.
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May 27, 2012 03:39pm
You are busy physically trying to harm us
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May 27, 2012 07:38pm
dude, it is exactly the opposite.....there is no moderation on Indian websites......check out TimesofIndia.com It is a free for all and you see more pakistanis than Indians commenting on the website........which world do you live in??? you must be another frog in the well living in denial.........read more and be abreast with the latest in the world rather than just posting any nonsense.
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May 28, 2012 12:17pm
good
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May 28, 2012 03:39pm
Pakistani players won't participate in the IPL IF they've some self-respect. They disrespected Pakistani players.
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May 28, 2012 06:20pm
Pakistani players should not be playing IPL.
Not true cricket , with so many matches finishing on the last ball, that .can only happen in bollywood.
The IPL looked more like WWF. It is a bit of fun no more then that.
The only thing the IPL has improved is fielding, but has done more damaged to cricket.
See India playing home and away, in the next one year, and you will see that these great IPL players are not so graet in test crickey, or one dayers.
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May 29, 2012 03:28am
All the Indians have got the same problem that they bring politics into cricket.Do not think that IPL is successful because people like it rather it is liked only by gamblers.BPL in Bangladesh is more successful than IPL without Indian players.
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May 29, 2012 12:53pm
you all do not do such comment , we all love cricket ,we need to have big heart to allow every one to show their talent of cricket in any format any of country he belongs to, just he shall be a good entertainer nothing else.
WE LOVE CRICKET
WE NEED TO PERMOT CRICKET ,AND THE ISSUE IN OUR IN IT
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May 30, 2012 08:08am
sorry dude but better check ur facts on ipl vs bpl .ipl is d daddy here even if bpl and ppl or watevae springs out
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