New Delhi, January 21: Former India cricketers feel the whole controversy over the Pakistani players not finding favour with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisees has needlessly given the country a bad name and that could have easily been avoided with a bit of proper planning.
Former stars Abbas Ali Baig, Chetan Chauhan, Navjot Singh Siddhu and Surinder Khanna felt the Pakistanis were justified in feeling aggrieved, and as they felt they were unwanted they need not have included in the auction list.
Former Test star and cricket manager Abbas Ali Baig thought that it was a bit of a shame that the charade was enacted in such a graceless manner.
“The whole unseemly drama could have easily been avoided with a little bit of careful planning before the auction. Now it looks as though it was all pre-meditated. The Pakistani players are not some non-entities, they are all exciting cricketers and could have added lustre to the IPL,” Baig told.
Baig said nobody would believe that Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal and Mohammad Aamer could not have fitted into any of the teams when fast bowlers, batsmen and all-rounders were picked by the IPL franchisees.
“There could be any number of reasons for Pakistani players not finding favour, but that could have been done with some grace. No excuse will wash as it looks like a hoax.”
Siddhu said the whole exercise tarnished India’s image and the international community will now cast aspersion on us.
“I think by omitting the Pakistani players, we have given the international community to cast aspersions on our credibility. The binding factor between the two countries is cricket, films and cultural exchanges,” Sidhu said.
“This IPL act has hurt the sentiments of Pakistanis. Who would not like to have boom boom Afridi in this format? He is the first choice for Twenty20.”
“The players should not be discriminated, they should be encouraged. What happened is not justified at all,” Sidhu added.
Chauhan concurred: “I cannot say whether the government issued any advisory or not for sidelining Pakistani players. But I do feel that if at all there was any kind of advisory or direction by the government to be issued, it should have been given earlier.”
“Pakistani players then should not have been included in the auction and this would have averted the whole controversy. It is understandable that they are feeling humiliated.”
“But from the government’s perspective, what I feel, they must have taken into account people’s feeling, especially after Mumbai attacks.,” Chauhan said.
Former India spinner Maninder Singh, however, differed.
“I think franchisees have become wiser. They would like to have players who are available. They would not like to see their money wasted.”
“I think it was just the fear of the franchisees who did not want to take any risk. IPL made it clear that it has no problem in Pakistani players coming and playing in India. But I am sure there must be some emotions involved, especially after what happened in Mumbai in 2008 where so many people lost their lives.”
Former Delhi cricketer Khanna said the whole controversy has left a “sour taste”.
“After making the players go through the process of getting the visa and government’s permission and then not picking them, has left a sour taste,” he said.
Member of the 1983 World Cup wining squad, Kirti Azad felt a mountain has been made out of a molehill.
“The franchisees are privately owned and they picked the players based on their team combination. Let’s not forget so many Australians were also not picked in the auction,” he pointed out.
—Agencies