Islamabad, January 22: The already fractious relationship between India and Pakistan has been soured even further after 11 Pakistani cricketers were snubbed in the auction for the upcoming 2010 Indian Premier League tournament.
The IPL, the biggest-grossing tournament of its kind, attracts players from around the world, lured by large pay cheques and the chance to play in front of a massive international television audience. But while the owners of the eight competing Indian franchises were this week happy to spend huge sums of money to secure the services of lesser-known cricketers, not one of the Pakistani players attracted a single bid, despite many of the squad having played in Pakistan’s World Twenty20-winning side last summer.
Snubbed stars included Shahid Afridi, who not only captained Pakistan’s Twenty20 team last year, but also appeared on billboards advertising the IPL. “I’m stunned by the omission and I’m obviously very disappointed,” Mr Afridi said. “The way I see it, the IPL and India have made fun of us and our country.”
–Agencies