Deccan Chargers deny Razzaq’s selection

MUMBAI - Hyderabad-based Indian Premier League (IPL) team Deccan Chargers has denied reports of roping in Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq as a substitute for injured West Indies fast-bowler Fidel Edwards.

Deccan Chargers Vice President (Operations) Venkat Reddy said, “We don’t have a slot and I am denying it. We don’t have the money also to sign up Razzaq.”

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said the Deccan Chargers do not have any money left with them to rope in a new player.

Modi said, “Currently, only Rajasthan Royals can have a slot. Deccan Chargers don’t have any money. Only way to bring a new player is through injury replacement.

“But for that, the IPL governing has to be convinced that the injured player won’t come back for even a single match,” he added.

However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ejaz Butt confirmed the news to a leading electronic media.

Ejaz said, “I have heard from Abdul Razzaq and he confirmed that the Deccan Chargers has given him an offer. However, I want it in writing from the IPL before he takes any action in this matter.”

Meanwhile, Razzaq too said that he was in talks with the Kolkata Knight Riders and was keen to play for them.

“I am also in talks with KKR and am very keen to play for them. I have taken the permission from the PCB chief Ejaz Butt to participate in IPL 3,” he added.

Razzaq further said, “We were disappointed at the way the IPL treated us but now time has changed and if at all I get a contract I will go by what the cricket board decides.”

There are reports that within the next three to four days, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are willing to offer contracts to Razzaq and Umar Gul in place of Bangladesh’s Mashrafe Mortaza and Charles Langeveldt of South Africa.

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Saurav Ganguly said, “Razzak has been approached. It is upto the government to take a final decision.”

Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Ejaz Jakhrani had even called on the Indian government to hold an inquiry into the IPL’s conduct in the matter.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr MS Gill had said on Wednesday that the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisees needed to learn a lesson from the auction ”fiasco” and hoped that Pakistani players would get an opportunity to play in the IPL tournament.

Home Minister P Chidambaram had said the decision of the franchisees not to select any of the 17 Pakistani cricketers was a disservice to the game of cricket.

IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi agreed with Chidambaram that there was no nudge from the Central Government with the regard to the selection or non-selection of Pakistani players

He stressed that it was the sole decision of the franchisees not to select the Pakistani players.

Eleven Pakistani players, including cream of the Shahid Afridi-led reigning Twenty20 World Cup squad, were in IPL auction 3 fray, but none of the eight IPL franchisees had taken interest in them, fearing the chill in Indo-Pak relation might worsen, resulting in non-participation of these players.
The uncertainty over their availability cost Pakistani players lucrative IPL contracts. (ANI)