Exclusion of Pakistani players from IPL

Exclusion of Pakistani players from IPL had remained a debate internationally, and was now and then criticized. Some time players were blamed internally about their performance, management also remained part o criticism and another reason discussed was the traditional rivalry of Indo-Pak. Results that were drained of all these discussions were “Game should remains a game rather politics or any other rivalry.”

Statement of Lalit Modi, a former commissioner of Indian premier league has revealed that board of control for cricket India (BCCI) was involved behind the issue of not bidding any Pakistani player in IPL. BCCI at the time of exclusion of Pakistani players stood by the stance that we are not allowing or forbidding any team to bid any player. But the statement of Lalit Modi uncovered the truth and told the media that BCCI was behind this exclusion. He said that managers of the teams were directed not to bid any of the Pakistani player strictly that was followed.

It is pertinent to mention here that Shahrukh khan also raise the voice in favor of Pakistani players by praising that Pakistani players are the best in the world and they should be given chance to play IPL. Indian and Pakistani people had always enjoyed the matches between them and were very much excited to see Pakistani players in IPL as well. Decision of exclusion of Pakistani players from IPL was atrocious for the cricket lovers of both the countries.

India has always talked about the extremism of Pakistan towards them and always blamed Pakistan for the hurdle in peace and friendship process between both the countries. But shameful politics that had uncovered the face of Indian propaganda had vividly shown that India is not willing to progress in the peace and friendship process. They had shown low level of their politics by using IPL as catalyst.

Modi also revealed that the auction of Andrew Flintoff in the 2009 edition too was rigged.

“Yes that is a fact. I made it clear that time. That onus was on me and as chairman I should have not allowed that to happen then,” Modi told CNN-IBN. Now when the realty is open for all India had to make certain policies regarding sports that may not influence sports activities.

Pakistani players are staring at the top by defeating English team in Dubai test matches, and captured the attention of the cricket world as the best team. Keeping in view this success India had to rethink the previous IPL policy of not bidding Pakistani players.

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) also has been started and Pakistani players are part of the league. It is threat for the IPL as well, as BPL is allowing the Pakistani players to be part of the league. A clear reaction of Sahara, biggest sponsor of Indian cricket to stop sponsoring Indian cricket, so India should be ready to have such response.

International media also covered that event of not bidding Pakistani players in such a way that Pakistan is not fit to play even in the neighboring country. One of Wall Street Journal (WSJ) blog from India quoted that “the treatment of Pakistani cricketers at IPL auctions is fueling ill-will in Pakistan, with some online forums describing the country’s cricketers as “banned” in India.”

IPL had to take such decisions that bring cheers to the faces of cricket lovers and it is also the need of hour to have such decision to lessen the strained relation of both the countries.