Pak players keen to play in cash-rich IPL

Agencies

Lahore: Pakistan players here have expressed their desire to participate in IPL and hoped that the PCB and government would meet soon and discuss the matter.

Pakistan government on Thursday had prohibited players to travel to India on security reasons.

Sohail Tanvir and Kamran Akmal, whose contracts were suspended by the Rajasthan Royals, are optimistic of improved situation. "It's a sad situation for Pakistan's players. We are eager to play in the IPL and hope the PCB and the government will soon meet to discuss the matter," said Akmal.

Tanvir pointed to the fact that Pakistan is starved of international cricket and that the Pakistan Cricket Board is struggling financially.

"We have central contracts, that's fine. But we will lose out on huge amounts of money for not playing in the IPL," said Tanvir.

"I have a three-year contract with the Rajasthan Royals and I am really clueless at the moment. I will speak to my manager to see what can be done."

" Tanvir, who has a 'Grade B' contract, is paid Pak Rs 1.75 lakh (INR 1.1 lakh) per month by the PCB. "I will lose $125,000 (Rs 60 lakh) for missing one edition of the IPL," said Tanvir.

Akmal, whose 'Grade A' PCB contract pays him Pak Rs 2.5 lakh (INR 1.56 lakh) per month, will lose $150,000 (Rs 72 lakh) for not figuring in the IPL. The contracts of Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Salman Butt and Younis Khan were terminated while Mohammad Asif has already been released from his contract.