Deccan Chargers sign up Razzaq, ends snub of Pakistani cricketers

MUMBAI - Hyderabad-based Deccan Chargers have reportedly signed up Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, as a replacement for injured West Indies fast-bowler Fidel Edwards.

V Shankar, the chairman of Deccan Chargers said, “One of our (international) players is injured and needs a surgery. Therefore, we needed a replacement and Razzaq fits the bill well because of his all-round abilities.”

“There was never an issue about Pakistan players being deliberately not picked as has been talked about all along,” he added.

It appears that Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shahrukh Khan seems to have missed out signing Razzaq, as he had earlier said that his team wanted a fast-bowler. Razzaq being an all-rounder fitted well in the slot.

Deccan Chargers did not reveal any further details about Edwards’s injury but have become the first team to sign a player from Pakistan.

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)