Pakistan's players have been refused permission to compete in this season's Indian Premier League due to security concerns.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed that they had been advised by the Foreign Office not to send any Pakistani players to India for any IPL event given the current climate of unease between the two countries following the terror attacks in Mumbai.
PCB chief operating officer, Saleem Altaf, commented: "We have informed the IPL and Indian board that our players can't take part in the IPL this year."
A total of 11 Pakistan players are signed up with IPL franchises and a further five - Yasir Hameed, Danish Kaneria, Asim Kamal, Mohammad Hafeez and Yasir Arafat - were entered in a list of more than 100 players from around the world for this year's auction which takes place in Goa on Friday.
They had sought clearance to travel to India and were initially granted permission with Pakistan's sports ministry issuing no objection certificates to the players to feature in the IPL.
However, the Foreign Office subsequently stepped in and advised the PCB it would be unwise to allow players to feature in the competition given the continuing tensions between India and Pakistan.
"The sports ministry said it would give clearance but the foreign ministry has told us it would not be advisable to send players to India at this time," Altaf added.
Disappointing
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, who plays for Delhi, inisted players would follow the directives laid out by the government and board.
"It is disappointing but something we have to accept given the prevailing circumstances," Malik stated.
The Indian government had stopped its team from undertaking a Test tour of Pakistan in January after the Mumbai attacks.
PCB chief operating officer, Saleem Altaf, commented: "We have informed the IPL and Indian board that our players can't take part in the IPL this year."
A total of 11 Pakistan players are signed up with IPL franchises and a further five - Yasir Hameed, Danish Kaneria, Asim Kamal, Mohammad Hafeez and Yasir Arafat - were entered in a list of more than 100 players from around the world for this year's auction which takes place in Goa on Friday.
They had sought clearance to travel to India and were initially granted permission with Pakistan's sports ministry issuing no objection certificates to the players to feature in the IPL.
However, the Foreign Office subsequently stepped in and advised the PCB it would be unwise to allow players to feature in the competition given the continuing tensions between India and Pakistan.
"The sports ministry said it would give clearance but the foreign ministry has told us it would not be advisable to send players to India at this time," Altaf added.
Disappointing
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, who plays for Delhi, inisted players would follow the directives laid out by the government and board.
"It is disappointing but something we have to accept given the prevailing circumstances," Malik stated.
The Indian government had stopped its team from undertaking a Test tour of Pakistan in January after the Mumbai attacks.
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