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Q.4117 Pak players in IPL
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4117
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.04.2010
SHRIMATI PARAMJIT KAUR GULSHAN:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the adverse impact on Indo-Pak bilateral relations due to non-inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL cricket matches; and
(b) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI S.M. KRISHNA)
(a) & (b) The Government had issued Indian visas to seventeen Pakistani cricketers at very short notice in December 2009 and January 2010 for their participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2010. The fact that none of the IPL franchisees for IPL 2010 bid for Pakistani players occasioned anti-India statements in Pakistan and allegations of ‘conspiracy’ at the behest of the Government of India. A few official visits to India from Pakistan did not materialise in the wake of the reaction in Pakistan. In a press release issued on January 21, 2010, Government clearly stated that the participation or absence of Pakistani cricketers in a commercial event of the nature of IPL is a matter not within its purview, and blaming the Government for the absence of Pakistani players from the 2010 edition of IPL was unfortunate.