PCB allows Shoaib Malik to play in BCL

Lahore, Mar.19 (ANI): A day after giving a green signal to Mohammad Yousuf for taking part in the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also allowed all-rounder Shoaib Malik to participate in the tournament starting March 26 in Sharjah.

According to sources, the PCB allowed Malik to play in tournament, as he has no national assignment ahead of him due to the one-year ban imposed on him by the board.

Earlier, the PCB allowed former captain Mohammed Yousuf to play in a private league in Bangladesh.

“Yousuf had requested the PCB that he wanted to play in Bangladesh and Ijaz (Butt) has given him the permission,” The Daily Times quoted a PCB spokesperson, as saying.

It may be noted that the PCB had issued a strict warning to the players wanting to participate in domestic tournaments of other countries, saying they must obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the board.

“The PCB firmly conveys to all concerned that no player is allowed to play cricket outside Pakistan without having prior approval from the board in this regard. Any player interested to play cricket in any part of the world should apply to the board to seek permission for the same,” a statement issued by the PCB said.

The PCB has prohibited players selected for the upcoming ICC T20 World Championship from taking part in Bangladesh’s domestic T20 tournament.

Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Mohammed Hafeez, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir had signed for the tournament but insiders said the PCB does not want to risk these players ahead of the coveted T20 World Cup and is unlikely to grant them the NOC’s. (ANI)

Pak Sports Ministry clears cricketers to take part in IPL

Islamabad, Jan.31 (ANI): The Pakistan government has no objection over its cricket players taking part in the Indian Twenty20 cricket extravanza, the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Pakistan sports minister Aftab Jilani said it (Pak Sports Ministry) has no objection to its cricketers competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“We feel it’s a private league in which Pakistan players compete in an individual capacity,” The Daily Times quoted Jilani, as saying.

He said that the ministry has already conveyed its stance to the President Asif Ali Zardari, patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who had asked for an opinion over Pakistan’s national cricketer taking part in the second season of the league, which kicks-off from April 10 this year.

However, Jilani made it clear that it was upto the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the players to decide whether they want to play in the league or not.

“We have replied to the presidency on this issue and now it’s up to the players and the PCB,” Jilani said.

Several top Pakistani cricketers such as Shahid Afridi , Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir,Asif, and Shoaib Malik had participated in the cash-rich IPL’s first season last year.

Due to the heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, it was feared that Pakistan would not allow its players to take part in the league, as the Indian Government had refused to send its cricket team on a tour to Pakistan earlier. (ANI)