Can’t change rules to accommodate Pak players at this stage: Modi

The brouhaha over the Pakistan players notwithstanding, there is a question mark over their participation in the IPL. In fact, a big question mark!

Even as expectations and speculations reached a new high on Thursday, with home minister P Chidambaram joining the bring-Pak players bandwagon, the IPL authorities have said that no realistic movement of Pakistan players has taken place. So far at least.

The reports linking Abdul Razzaq to certain franchisees have been also rubbished. “We can’t change the rule to accommodate the Pakistan players. At this stage there are no slots with most franchisees,” Lalit Modi said, while Deccan Chargers denied signing up with the Pakistan all-rounder. “We have not signed Razzaq. We don’t have slots nor do we have the purse to buy,” a Chargers official categorically said.

Pakistan Cricket Board said it has not been approached by any player for an NOC. “I’m not aware of any player being approached by any franchisee,” PCB chief Ijaz Butt said. Razzaq though said he was approached by Kolkata Knight Riders as well.

“I have been approached by the Chargers and I have told them to send me the contract. I am also in talks with Knight Riders and I would love to play for them,” Razzaq said.

But KKR have no vacancies. Reports of injuries to Charles Langeveldt and Mashrafe Mortaza (teams have the option of replacing a foreign recruit if he is injured for the whole season) proved to be untrue as the Bangladesh bowler flew down to New Zealand with the national team while South African was in contention for tour of India. “We had Razzaq’s name in our list. We wanted him. But we will go by the rules,” KKR skipper Sourav Ganguly said.

At this stage, only Rajasthan Royals have a vacancy and purse to buy a foreign player and there was a talk that the former champions were even eyeing Sohail Tanveer but their management denied having any such move.

“Royals do have a slot and the purse to do so. However, we believe we have a very competitive team with the current talent. Our squad selection is never driven by the nationality of the player but by the desire to provide the best blend of skills for the team. We are currently evaluating our options and whether we wish to add to the squad or not, and will announce our final squad within the timeframe given to us by IPL,” Sean Morris, franchisee’s chief executive, said.

RCB can have a replacement: Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore can get a replacement as Jesse Ryder has been declared unfit for IPL III. However, an RCB official said they are not looking at a Pakistan player as replacement at this stage. “We will decide later,” he said.
—With inputs from agencies

How it works
A franchisee cannot unilaterally decide on a replacement. If it  wants to bring in a replacement, it first has to approach the governing council of the IPL. The council will refer the matter to the technical committee which will decide if a certain player is injured for the whole season before giving the go-ahead for the replacement.