The ban on the 19 Pakistani cricketers who participated in the ICL has been temporarily lifted by the Sind High Court, allowing the players to participate in domestic cricket. Whilst this was positive news for Pakistan’s ICL players, for those Pakistani players affiliated with the IPL, things were not so positive.
The Pakistan foreign ministry has informed the sports ministry that it was not safe to send Pakistani players to participate in the second season of the IPL. Those already with franchises have been dropped whilst the five players that were due to go up for auction have been withdrawn.
Should the situation not change, Pakistan’s ICL players can expect to be told not to travel to India also once the ICL starts again. Questions regarding the inclusion of Pakistani players in the ICL after the Mumbai attacks arose last December when Kiran More, an ICL executive board member, told cricinfo that the participation of the Pakistani contingent was “not favourable”.
The loss to the IPL of the likes of Sohail Tanvir, who was the bowler of the tournament by far, and the loss of the Lahore Badshahs to the ICL, will be something not easily replaced.
The time has come for Pakistan cricket to close ranks. As is looking likely, the PCB will recognise the ICL (even though the players may not participate), they should then begin to form their own Twenty20 tournament comprising of its own players from the IPL and ICL, and invite cricketers from other countries by offering them good financial rewards. May be this is one way in which the revenue, retained from the postponed Champions Trophy, can be spent. It will be a positive step in trying to alleviate concerns about the security in the country, and a way of getting Pakistan cricket back on it’s feet.
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February 4th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Absolutely….this is our chance to get together now and take care of number 1.
We should definitely start the Pakistan Cricket League. Just look at how many players were trimmed from the original IPL auction list and its easy to see that there are plenty of international players out there that can make this idea a success if they were invited. This is the only way to stop the scaremongering.
We should be able to provide good incentives and the government should help the PCB with this….it’s vital.
February 4th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
We should even think about holding our t20 outside of pakistan for the first few years if we have to
February 4th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I see what your saying underarm but I think the ICC new rules means we’ll have to get permission from them if our own t20 was not on domestic soil.
Neverthless, we should play at home, as the writer suggested, this will make people see that there is no danger to cricketers in Pakistan.
February 5th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Waseem, I am sure they will give us permission….it’s just a matter of applying. Plus, the ICC have a lot of making up to do with Pakistan cricket.
About holding our t20 overseas…..what we must remember is that the foreigners won’t want to play in Pakistan because they need their alcohol and night life. Unless we offer them silly money, which we shouldn’t. A good wage is fare enough but we shouldn’t be ripped off
February 7th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Akram suggested inviting a world 11 but I think our own t20 tournament would be better. Players will just come and play the one off world 11 game, go back and forget about us.