vIndianz.com (20 Jan, 2010) — Eleven Pakistani players, including those who won the last Twenty20 World Cup held in England, were in the fray but none of the franchisees took interest in them in the upcoming third edition of Indian Premier League Edition, fearing their unavailability in the tournament.
The auction was held on Tuesday and IPL commissioner Lalit Modi conceded the biggest question facing the franchisees was the availability of the players they would buy and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty said her team did not bid for any Pakistani players simply because they were not sure about their availability.
“We were not convinced about their availability and that’s why we did not want to take any risk,” Shilpa said after her team bought veteran Australian Damien Martyn for $100,000.
Citing the instance of Sohail Tanvir, who played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royal’s fairytale win in the inaugural IPL, Shilpa said there was no question of bidding for a player who might not be available in the tournament.
Expectedly Pakistani cricketers have reacted angrily to the snub with current Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi saying that the IPL’s attitude was disappointing.
Afridi, who was supposed to be the main attraction for franchisees at the IPL auction in Mumbai, said from Brisbane where Pakistan is touring Australia at the moment, he was disappointed and upset with the way things 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 franchisees 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 is quoted by an Indian news agency.
Afridi was the first player to be put on auction with a base price of $250,000, but no franchise was interested in buying him.
Franchises preferred West Indian, South African and Australian players while ignoring the 11 Pakistani players who were available in the auction for sale. The franchisees said Pakistani players’ availability was not certain and they couldn’t risk their money on them.
Afridi was among the batch of Pakistani players who played in the first IPL season for Deccan Chargers.
Others include all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.
Tanvir who was the best bowler in the inaugural IPL and played a big role in helping Rajasthan Royals win the title, said he felt humiliated and angry with what transpired at the auction.
Pollard: Playing with Tendulkar an honour to me
For West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who was bought by Indian Premier League team Mumbai Indians for a whopping $750,000 in Tuesday’s auction, chance to share the dressing room with Sachin Tendulkar came as an additional bonanza.
“It is an honour to play with Sachin Tendulkar. I have grown up as a kid by watching him in the television,” Pollard told an Indian TV news channel after he was sold to the Mumbai team during first round of the IPL auction in Mumbai.
Bond and Pollard are costliest
Apart from Pollard, New Zealand paceman Shane Bond fetched the biggest price during the player auction held in Mumbai on Monday.
In other significant buys, Deccan Chargers got West Indies paceman Kemar Roach for $720,000. And Delhi Daredevils signed up South African paceman Wayne Parnell for $610,000.
Further Reading- IPL-3 opener in Mumbai
- Afridi banned
- Afridi at it again
- Pakistan Cricket Board action
- Battle royale on cards
- Thackeray attacks Mukesh, SRK
- IPL-3 to SA?
- Play IPL at your risk!
- Deccan Chargers to play IPL-3: Modi
- Sania’s Dil Hai Hindustani
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