Afridi to consider playing in IPL again despite third season snub

KARACHI - Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has not ruled out the possibility of playing in the fourth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Pakistan cricketers were left stunned after none of the 11 players available received bids from the eight competing IPL franchisees during this year’s auction.

Afridi was one of the stars who failed to secure a place along with team-mates Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul and Umar Akmal.

The 30-year-old had earlier described the cold shoulder given to Pakistani players as an insult, and had vowed never to play in the IPL again.

However, now he reckons that “it all depends on the policy” of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the government.

“At the same time it is also important that we are given proper respect by the IPL people and teams,” The Daily Times quoted Afridi, as saying.

“If they invite us with respect I would consider playing in the IPL, but for the moment I have not given it a thought,” he added.

This year’s auction saw 66 international players available for just 11 slots, with West Indies’ Kieron Adrian Pollard joining the Mumbai Indians after attracting an undisclosed fee, exceeding his price of 750,000 dollars per season.

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, N. Srinivasan, had denied that the board or the Indian government blocked the non-selection of Pakistan players.

“The BCCI has no role. And the choice of the individual team owners should not be mixed up with government policy,” Srinivasan had said.

“It is possible that some franchisees could have displayed interest in the Pakistani players and then changed their minds according to their needs,” he added. (ANI)