Thaindian News

New Delhi/Islamabad, Jan 21 (IANS) The Indian government said Thursday that it was not involved with the decision to keep Pakistani players out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and advised Islamabad to “draw a line” before making sharp comments.
As Pakistan escalated rhetoric over the perceived snub to Pakistani cricketers, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said: “(The) government has nothing to do with IPL, on selection of players and various exercises that are connected with it.

“So, Pakistan will have to draw a line between where government of India is connected and where government of India is an actor,” he told reporters when asked about the strong words used by Pakistani leaders linking New Delhi to the non-selection of Pakistani cricketers by IPL team owners.

Krishna was responding to a question on Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s remarks that the manner in which the Pakistani players were “insulted” showed that India was not serious about the peace process.

Krishna’s clarification came a day after Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza announced in the National Assembly the decision not to send any parliamentary delegation to India to protest the “treatment meted out” to the country’s cricketers in the IPL tournament.

She also alleged that it was a “planned conspiracy” to prevent Pakistani players from featuring in the cash-rich series.

A sense of shock and outrage gripped Twenty20 champions Pakistan after none of the country’s 11 players, including Shahid Afridi who had played for Deccan Chargers in the first season, were signed up during the IPL auction on Tuesday. The IPL matches have a huge fan following in cricket-crazy Pakistan.

Furious over the surprise rejection of Pakistani cricketers, Malik told some TV channels in Pakistan: “India or any other country that does not give respect to Pakistan will be treated the same way by us.

“If there is a desire to improve Indo-Pakistan friendship, respect should be given to Pakistani sportspersons,” Malik said.

Sportspersons are ambassadors of peace and India should have treated them with respect, he said, adding that Pakistan would respond in a befitting manner.

“The way India behaved with us is highly condemnable. We will give a befitting reply. When there is a question of Pakistan’s pride, we all are united,” said Pakistan Sports Minister Ijaz Jakhrani.