Pakistan players, who have been dumped by the Indian Premier League (IPL), Monday asked the IPL bosses to either allow them to play in the IPL or clear their dues amounting to $38.5 million. Addressing a joint press conference here at a local club, Shoaib Malik, Misbahul Haq, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt and Mohammad Hafeez said they were baffled under which law their contracts had been suspended and terminated. The IPL has terminated contracts of five Pakistan cricketers – Younis Khan, Malik, Shahid Afridi, Salman and Shoaib Akhtar who all played in the inaugural IPL tournament – and suspended contracts of Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Misbah and Kamran.

The players said they were not informed about their contracts’ termination and suspension by the IPL. “We still have no official information in black and white regarding our contracts’ suspension or termination. This is beyond our comprehension,” the players lamented.

They said the IPL wrongly terminated their three-year contracts after the Pakistan government did not allow them to go to India because of the strained political relations between the two countries. “We did not violate our contracts. We didn’t refuse to play in the IPL. The organisers should not have terminated our contracts at a short notice without clearing dues for the full three-year contract. The IPL has now been shifted to South Africa for security reasons and we want the IPL to either allow us to play or compensate us fully.” The Pakistan stars said they would file a case against the IPL management after consulting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “This is not a matter of India and Pakistan but livelihood, security, future and well being of cricketers.”

Fast bowler Umar, infact, has now informed his team, Kolkata Knight Riders, to increase his contractual fee as he was brought in the players auction last year for only $150,000. Opener Mohammad Hafeez, who represented the Kolkata Knight Riders, only had a one-year contract with them while fast bowler Mohammad Asif has been released by Delhi Daredevils after testing positive in a dope test carried out in the league last year by the organisers. However, Asif has now got his dues from the IPL and has no grievances.
Source – dailytimes.com.pk