The Chief Operating Officer for Pakistan Cricket Board, Wasim Bari, announced on Saturday, 21 November 2009 that it had yet not received any invitation from the IPL (Indian Premier League) tournament organizers. The deadline set by IPL for receiving the NOC (No Objection Certificates) letters was November 20, 2009, without which the PCB cannot instantiate the visa paperwork for its players.
“As far as I am concerned not a single player, who is interested in the IPL gave me an invitation letter of the IPL, though the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt has already been in contact with the government to seek guidelines on this issue, whether to allow the players to play in the IPL or not, an invitation from the IPL is nevertheless mandatory.”, Bari reported to Dawn. The Pakistani players were absent from the second season of IPL played at the beginning of 2009 in South Africa. The Pakistani government cited security reasons for the absence at the matches which were earlier to be held in India.
The Pakistani players were hopeful of the invitation having cleared another big hurdle of the PCB not allowing them to appear for the tournament. The PCB assured that the political problems between Pakistan and India will not be taken out on the cricket field.
The PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt has confirmed the news and also stated that the board will approach the government to seek a go-ahead for the team, even though it had received the NOCs from two players. Butt agreed to have received the certificates, “We have already issued NOC’s on our part to Abdul Razzaq and Umar Gul to take part in the IPL next season as they have valid contracts. Any player who gets a contract from any franchise will be given NOC’s by us, we will approach the government soon but we are confident that this time the government will give clearance.”
“I only want an invitation letter from the players and the guideline of the government and that is all from my side,” Bari added to his statement.