Mumbai, Jan 19 (Agencies): For the second successive season, the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be devoid of Pakistani flavour. The Pakistani players went unsold in the third IPL auction here Tuesday as there were no takers for the stars of the World Twenty20 champion side.
The uncertainty over their availability cost Pakistani players lucrative Indian Premier League contracts as apprehensive franchisees overlooked them in today's auction.
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," Shetty said after her team bought veteran Australian Damien Martyn for USD 100,000.
Pakistani players were barred from participating in the last edition in South Africa in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. However, their players were registered for auction this time after a delay in Pakistan government clearing them to play in the Twenty20 tournament and India granting them the visas.
There was a hushed silence when the name of the Pakistan Twenty20 World Cup star player Shahid Afridi, who was expected to be a top draw in the auction, was announced first up. After that it was clear that none of the Pakistanis would be picked, though Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach Wasim Akram was said to be keen on getting fast bowling sensation Mohammad Aamer.
The Akmal brothers -- Kamran, who played for Rajasthan Royals in the first edition and Umar, who scored century on debut against New Zealand -- were among the favourites.
In all, eleven Pakistani players, including Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved and Imran Nazir, who were part of the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL), were in the auction list.
Pakistan players who went unsold were Shahid Afridi, Misbahul Haq, Umar Gul, Imran Nazir, Rana Naved, Mohammad Aamer, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, and Sohail Tanvir.
Giving the instance of Sohail Tanvir, who played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royal's fairytale win in the inaugural IPL, Shetty said there was no question of bidding for a player who might not be available in the tournament.
"See, every team has its own strategy. If someone is not going to be available, why bid for him," asked the actor, who was in touch with captain Shane Warne over phone before she bought veteran Australian Damien Martyn.
Modi also articulated that players' availability was a concern for the franchisees, who were not ready to spend a fortune for cricketers, who may not be available for the tournament.
"The biggest question for the franchisees was the availability of the players. They are no more ready to spend USD seven or eight million for someone who would not be available for the tournament. It not only exhausted their purse but also wasted slots," Modi explained.
"They want only those players who would be available for the tournament. They are spending money and they want to get the results," Modi said.
The IPL commissioner said he expected Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach and Eoin Morgan to attract multiple offers and go into the Silent Tie-Breaker.
"I thought they are the three players who would go to the Tie-Breaker. It was surprising that Roach didn't while Shane Bond did and Bangalore got Morgan which was a steal. More so because only this morning we got the confirmation that Morgan will be available for the full IPL and not just half of it," Modi said.
Kumble to remain RCB captain
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya, who bought Englishman Eoin Morgan today, announced that Anil Kumble, who was with him during the auction, would remain the captain of the side in IPL III.
"Anil has been successful in the past and he would continue as the captain," Mallya said.
Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Jay Mehta also took the occasion to announce that the outfit had dumped the multiple-captain theory of former coach John Buchanan and Sourav Ganguly would lead the side.
Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta, whose team recalled South African Yusuf Abdulla today, said Yuvraj Singh would continue to remain a key player despite losing captaincy to Kumar Sangakkara.
"Yuvraj is very, very essential part of the team and one of the top players. We went for a little bit of change amicably but surely we are not the only team that changed captain. Bangalore and Kolkata have done it in the past. We are looking for the perfect balance and let's see if it works," she said.
Pak cricketers angry, disappointed at IPL snub
Karachi, Jan 19 (PTI) : Pakistani cricketers, who were ignored by the Indian Premier League franchises in today's auction, have reacted angrily to the snub with Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi saying that the IPL's attitude was disappointing.
Afridi, who was supposed to be the main attraction for franchises at the IPL auction in Mumbai, said from Brisbane 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 franchises 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.
Afridi was the first player to be put on auction with a base price of USD 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 franchises 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.
Senior all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who was also among the players in the auction, said he saw the snub to Pakistani players as a joint strategy between the IPL and Indian government to insult Pakistan players.
"They have basically tried to hurt our cricket and image and this is most disappointing because I believe there should be no politics in sports," Razzaq said.
He also questioned the inclusion of Pakistani players in the auction list if the franchises were not interested.
"In the end it is the IPL which has lost out because the fact is our players have star value and are the best in T20 cricket," he added.
All-rounder Sohail Tanvir, who was the best bowler of the inaugural IPL season and played a big role in helping Rajasthan Royals win the title, said he felt humiliated and angry with what transpired at the auction.
"They mean to say none of our players are good enough to be in the IPL. I am sorry to say the franchises have taken a decision not based on cricketing sense but on political grounds which is a shame and has hurt the image of the sport," Tanvir said.
He pointed out that if the IPL and franchises had reservations over having Pakistani players they should have made it clear beforehand.
"Why create all this fuss about visa requirements and government clearances. If they don't want us they should be clear about it in the first place.", Tanvir said.
"We sent names because we thought the franchises wanted us but if it is all about politics and security they should be clear about it," Tanvir said.
And it's not just the players who are feeling hurt, Pakistan's minister for sports Ejaz Jakhrani said he was surprise over the way Pakistani players had been snubbed.
"I am surprised and disappointed at the way we have been treated. It is not a good sign for improving and enhancing sporting ties between the two countries," Jakhrani said.
"We gave them security clearance as well so it was surprising the way they were snubbed at the auction because they are the best in the world in Twenty20 cricket," he added.
Jakhrani said he would also ask the PCB to explain why the players were treated in this way even though the government had given required clearances to the players.
PCB chairman Ejaz Butt, however, said he was not bothered by the snub given to Pakistani players.
"It really does not bother us what difference does it make to us if our players don't play in the IPL this season. They didn't play in the last season as well," Butt said.
The PCB Chairman said the responsibility of the board was to clear the road for Pakistani players to make themselves available for the IPL and it had done that.
"We got the required clearances from our government. But after that we can't interfere in anybody's work so what we say," Butt added.
But former Pakistan captain, Rameez Raja was more vocal in his take on the auction.
"I think the IPL and the Indian government have lost a golden opportunity to help improve ties between the two countries," the former captain said.
"I really do believe there were political reasons behind the way our players were snubbed at the auction and it is most unfortunate," he said.
Former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir said it is time the PCB organised its own league.
"If need arises we should hold this league even at a neutral venue and try to invite as many Indian players as possible to give out a clear message we don't mix sports with politics," he said.
Former Test captain Zaheer Abbas said the Pakistani players must realise that IPL is a private league.
"The fact is the IPL is a private enterprise and if their franchises are not willing to take our players what can anyone do. But there is no doubt that our players and Pakistan cricket have been humiliated and insulted at such a big forum in a planned manner," he stated.
Zaheer, however, said if the Pakistan board felt the Indians had done wrong then they should announce a complete boycott of ties with India.
"Our players and officials should also not go to India for any reason. But if we want a betterment of ties with India then we should just keep quiet," he said.
Pollard, Bond costliest players at IPL auction
Mumbai, Jan 19, (PTI): The explosive Caribbean all-rounder Kieron Pollard and New Zealand paceman Shane Bond emerged as the most expensive players, being sold for a whopping USD 750,000 (app Rs 3.42 crore) at the auction for the third edition of the Indian Premier League here on Tuesday.
It was a four-way tie among Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders to grab Pollard and eventually Mumbai won the player through a silent tie-breaker bid in the high profile auction which saw no Pakistani player being sold out. The price of the silent bid was not disclosed by the organisers with IPL Chairman Lalit Modi saying that the information will be confined to the bidders and them.
Like Pollard, a keen tussle was witnessed to grab Kiwi paceman Bond with Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers making the highest bid. After a tie-breaker, the Kolkata grabbed the paceman. West Indies paceman Kemar Roach was the second costliest player sold to Deccan Chargers for USD 720,000. Delhi Daredevils bought South African all rounder Wayne Parnell for USD 610,000 against a base price of USD 200,000.
Rajasthan Royals bought retired Australian Damien Martyn for USD 100,000 apart from securing the services of Adam Voges for USD 50,000. Chennai Super Kings recalled South African Justin Kemp by paying USD 100,000 and also bought emerging Sri Lankan batsman Thisara Perera for USD 50,000. Mohammed Kaif, the only Indian player featuring in the auction, went unsold in the first round but was later bought by Kings XI Punjab for USD 250,000. They also recalled South African Yusuf Abdullah. Royal Challengers Bangalore bid for just one player and got England's Eoin Morgan for USD 220,000.
In all, 56 players remained unsold out of 67 that went under the hammer. Three Under-19 Indian players at a fixed price of Rs 8 lakh were also in the auction list. Royal Challengers Bangalore chose U-19 skipper Ashok Maneria, Deccan Chargers preferred Harmeet Singh and Mumbai Indians opted for Harshal Patel. The third edition of the extremely popular Twenty20 tournament will begin from March 12.
Bond, an Indian Cricket League returnee, had an injury-marred career but Kolkata justified buying him saying that the pacer's experience would be valuable. "he is not playing Tests anymore. He is injury prone but his coach has told us that he is in good shape right now. We wanted a fast bowler and an experienced one. Shane fulfills the criteria," said KKR joint owner Jay Mehta.
West Indians were also among the hot picks at the auction with paceman Kemar Roach becoming the second costliest player, sold to Deccan Chargers for USD 720,000. Both Pollard and Roach featured in the West Indian domestic side Trinidad and Tobago, which won the Champions League Twenty20 last year.
"It was a team strategy decided by Sachin Tendulkar and Robin Singh to have Pollard. I go by their judgement," said Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani when asked why she chose to exhaust all the money on just one player.
South African Wayne Parnell, a 20-year-old hard-hitting all-rounder, also fetched a lot more then his base price of USD 200,000, bought for USD 610,000 by Delhi Daredevils. Rajasthan Royals picked retired Australian Damien Martyn, also an ICL returnee, for USD 100,000 apart from securing the services of pacer Adam Voges for USD 50,000.
"We were constantly on phone with our captain Shane Warne. He decides all this and we have got exactly what we wanted. Voges is a good player and so is Martyn," said Rajasthan stakeholder Shilpa Shetty.
Chennai Super Kings recalled South African hard-hitter Justin Kemp by paying USD 100,000 and also bought emerging Sri Lankan batsman Thisara Perera for USD 50,000. Mohammed Kaif, the only Indian player featuring in the auction after his contract was bought out by Rajasthan Royals, went unsold in the first round but was later taken by Kings XI Punjab for USD 2,50,000. Kings XI also recalled South African pacer Yusuf Abdullah.
Royal Challengers Bangalore bid for just one player and got England's Eoin Morgan for USD 2,20,000. In all, 56 players remained unsold out of 67 that went under the hammer. The prominent Pakistani players who failed to find any buyers, included bowling all-rounder Sohail Tanvir, Akmal brothers -- Umar and Kamran, rising pacer Mohammad Aamer, Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Gul.
The second edition of the event, which had to be shifted to South Africa due to a clash of dates with general elections, did not feature any Pakistani players in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.
Modi and franchise owners said with Pakistani players availability still not sure, they didn't want to take the risk of including them in the squads. "Availability is an issue with the owners. Teams know when to replace and whom to replace based on their availability. Their strategy is devised on that basis," said Modi.
"We were not convinced about the availability of Pakistani players so didn't want to take the risk," added Shetty. Three Under-19 Indian players at a fixed price of Rs 8 lakh were also in the auction list.
Royal Challengers Bangalore chose U-19 skipper Ashok Maneria, Deccan Chargers preferred Harmeet Singh and Mumbai Indians opted for Harshal Patel. The third edition of the extremely popular Twenty20 tournament will begin from March 12.