Pak urges India to investigate IPL-3 auction fiasco

Islamabad, Jan.27 (ANI): Pakistan Sports Minister Ijaz Jakhrani has urged the Indian government to initiate an inquiry into the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction fiasco.

Jakhrani said while it was quite clear that the 'snub' was deliberate and influenced by certain quarters, New Delhi must come out with the actual details regarding the issue.

"We want the government of India to intervene in this issue and let us know who were responsible in keeping Pakistan cricketers away from the IPLFrom day one our stance is that the IPL decision was an influenced one," The Daily Times quoted Jakhrani, as saying.

Referring to Home Minister P. Chidambaram's statement that the decision to ignore Pakistani players was a 'disservice' to the game of cricket, Jakhrani said his (Chidambaram's) remarks was a positive sign and it vindicates Islamabad's stance.

"The statement makes it crystal clear that there was involvement of a third player in influencing the IPL auction,' he added.

The IPL has already denied any government interference and stated that the T20 league officials had never said that the Indian government did not grant permission to the Pakistani players.

Eleven Pakistani players, including the cream of the Shahid Afridi-led reigning Twenty20 World Cup squad, were in the IPL auction 3 fray, but none of the eight IPL franchisees took interest in them, fearing the chill in Indo-Pak relation might worsen, resulting in non-participation of these players. (ANI)