Pakistan's IPL hopes left out in cold

The Indian Premier League will be missing one spicy ingredient from its heady mix in 2009 after Pakistan's exhilarating players were exiled from the money-spinning tournament.

The Pakistan government banned its players from participating in the IPL after political relations with India deteriorated in the wake of November's terror attacks in Mumbai, which New Delhi blamed on militants based across the border.

By the time the IPL was relocated to South Africa, following the Indian government's refusal to provide adequate security, as the event overlapped with parliamentary elections, Pakistani players' contracts had already been either terminated or suspended.

The IPL refused to include Pakistan players even after the relocation, claiming new stars had been bought by franchises as replacements.

Pakistani players were outraged and claimed the IPL had not bothered to inform them about the contract cancellations. They even staged a protest under the banner 'Include us or pay us' in Lahore last week.

They have also threatened legal action.

Former international captain Ramiz Raja believes a consequence will be plummeting interest in the IPL in Pakistan.

"The event's moved out of India, there are no Pakistani players playing, so interest in our country has definitely gone down," said Raja, who as a television commentator, will be the only Pakistani involved in this year's IPL.

Even Pakistan?s two world class umpires, Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf, were left out in the cold.

Pakistan?s limited overs series against Australia from April 22-May 7 in the United Arab Emirates, which clashes with the first half of the IPL, will also divert the attention of television viewers away from events in South Africa.

source : http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gs5ropwWBVhl5OrOX8kwQhJisTwA

Asif to watch few IPL ties in South Africa

Disgraced Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif will fly down to South Africa to watch a few matches of the Indian Premier League, his management company said on Tuesday.

"Asif will be going to South Africa to watch a few matches of the IPL," the company said without elaborating whether the bowler has been invited by the organisers or is going there by himself.

Asif, who played for the Delhi Daredevills last year in the IPL, flunked a dope test and was subsequently released by his franchise while the IPL Drugs Tribunal also banned him for 12 months for his doping offence.

Asif will also go to England to attend a rehabilitation and training course to get back to full match fitness before his 12-month ban ends in September.

He will also play for some club in England from May onwards, according to his company.

Asif has been under suspension by the Pakistan cricket Board since last July for his doping offence and is also fighting to avoid further penalties over his 19-day detention in Dubai last year in June while returning home from

India.

Wasim Bari, who heads the PCB Inquiry Committee that is probing into his detention in Dubai, has dismissed claims by Asif that he has submitted the documents asked for by the committee from Dubai authorities.

The committee is expected to meet on April 20 to give a final verdict.