da poker： No Pakistan player was picked in the IPL auction. Players, boards, governments, all had something to say about it
da leao： Cricinfo staff21-Jan-2010″The IPL and India have made fun of us and our country.”
“To see Afridi remain unsold and a rookie like Pollard bag a fortune … doesn’t it say everything?”
“It really does not bother us; what difference does it make to us if our players don’t play in the IPL this season? They didn’t play in the last season as well.”
“I agree this is a private event, but to be excluded without giving any reason and without looking at the background is unfair. If they had told us we would have told the boys not to apply at all.”
“No one talks about the players from countries like Australia, Canada and Zimbabwe not being picked in the auction. There was no preconceived conspiracy to leave Pakistani players.”
“It is the IPL which has lost out because the fact is our players have star value and are the best in T20 cricket.”
“I have phoned the sports minister of India and recorded a protest over the unjust and discriminatory treatment meted out to the Pakistani cricketers.”
“Pakistanis must boycott IPL matches on television, ban the use of Indian products and stop watching Indian films featuring Bollywood stars who are IPL franchisees till an official apology is received from the Indian government and the IPL organisers.”
“IPL is not only a cricket league but it is also a commercial enterprise and the government of India and the sports ministry has nothing to do with them.”
“I feel what is the fault of the cricketers in this. We also feel a cricketer is not an extremist nor is he a supporter [of terrorism].”
“… if the players now think their dignity has been compromised, they have themselves to blame.”
“I fear a day will come when world cricket will be run by India alone. So I fear if Australia, England, Sri Lanka and the West Indies don’t realise this, world cricket will be at the mercy of India.”
“… for such a long tournament we have to be completely convinced on player availability ie not just their dates but their presence in India, as providing security is a huge concern, with threats from some lunatic fringes..we could not afford that risk as we value our players.”
“Pakistani cricketers were treated badly by India, so to keep our national pride we must not send our hockey team to the World Cup.”