Imran Khan slams 'insulting' IPL snub
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Imran Khan |
Legendary fast bowler Imran Khan said Sunday that Pakistani players
had suffered ``insulting treatment" at the hands of the Indian Premier
League, and no player should take part in the tournament.
Eleven top Pakistani cricketers were up for grabs at the Indian
Premier League (IPL) auction in mid-January but none were picked,
sparking outrage in Pakistan and accusations against arch-rival India of
political meddling.
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Right-wing Hindu Shiv Sena activists shout slogans against
Indian Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as they burn posters
bearing his image during a demonstration in Amritsar on Tuesday.
The demonstrators were protesting against Shah Rukh Khan for his
support for Pakistani cricket players taking part in the Indian
Premier League (IPL) cricket. AFP |
"IPL did injustice to Pakistani players in fact it was insulting
treatment meted out to players who are world champions, and we should
never send our players to the league," said Khan, a former captain
turned politician.
"Pakistani cricketers are the best in the world and the PCB should
protest this with the Indian Board and boycott the IPL," he told
reporters.
"They totally disrespected the Pakistani players. If they had
security problems they should have dealt with them before the auction."
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already revoked permission for
players to feature in the third edition of the IPL in March-April, while
PCB chief Ijaz Butt has also said the nation's cricketers are banned
from the tournament.
Former players have demanded that the national hockey team boycott
the upcoming World Cup in New Delhi in protest, while Pakistan's sports
minister complained to his Indian counterpart.
Former players and politicians have also called for a boycott of the
2011 cricket World Cup, jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh.
"We should play in the World Cup, even if we have to play in India,
because the World Cup is a global event and if we don't play, our
cricket will suffer badly," said Khan, one of the top four all-rounders
to play the game. KARACHI, Wednesday AFP
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