BCCI did not give any instructions to IPL teams on players' selection: Rajiv Shukla

Mumbai, (ANI): Rajiv Shukla, Vice-President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday said that the board did not give any instructions to the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams on selection of players.

There has been anger in Pakistan over Tuesday's IPL season three auction, in which not even one of the 11 available Pakistani players received bids from the eight competing franchises.

According to reports, the Pakistani cricketers were excluded from the bidding process following fears that the players could have visa problems when the tournament is underway.

Stating that the BCCI and the Government has got nothing to do with the players' selection, Shukla asked if that had been the case then why were the Pakistani players' name included in the bidding list.

"Indian government has got nothing to do with the IPL auction nor did the Indian Government interfere, neither do they have the right to interfere in the auction. As far as BCCI is concerned, even BCCI did not give any such instructions or indications that Pakistani players should not be selected," Shukla said.

"All these are wrong statements. If there had been any such indications, why were their names included in the bid list?" he added.

The Government had also rubbished Pakistan's claim that its players did not win IPL contracts because of politics or visa concerns, and said that such apprehensions were misplaced.

"The participation or absence of Pakistani cricketers in a commercial event of the nature of IPL is, thus, a matter not within the purview of the government," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

It has also termed the allegations as "unfortunate" and asked Pakistan to introspect on the reasons, which have put a strain on relations between the two countries, and have adversely impacted on peace, stability and prosperity in the region.