Karachi: Ignored for the third consecutive time from the IPL players auction, Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq said he is upset not to have got a chance to rub shoulders with the world`s best as 353 cricketers go under the hammer on Jan 8 in Bangalore for the upcoming fourth season of the Twenty20 event.
Although many Pakistani players have played in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League, Razzaq is yet to make an appearance in the cash-rich tournament as he was associated with the unofficial Indian Cricket League in 2008.
And since then the IPL franchises gave a cold shoulder to the Pakistani cricketers for the last two years because of diplomatic tensions between the two nations after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
"It is disappointing because obviously one would like to be part of such a major event. The tournament is a great platform to compete and play alongside the world`s top players. But I don`t have any regret since it is something that is not in my hands," Razzaq said today.
The 31-year-old right-hander blamed the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), who are the promoters of the league, and the IPL teams for Pakistani players snub from the event.
"I know if it had been possible the Pakistan Cricket Board would have sent our names for the auction but they can`t do anything unless they get a response from the Indians," Razzaq noted.
The experienced all-rounder who has represented Pakistan in 46 Tests, 248 ODIs and 26 T20 Internationals, said the game of cricket and IPL is turning out to be the loser in the tensions between the two countries.
"It is unfortunate for cricket. It is strange to see all the top players of the world in action in the IPL this year except for the Pakistani players who are renowned for their prowess in t20 format," Razzaq said.
"Until such time I just feel it is IPL`s loss. I know for a fact that Pakistani players have a big fan following in India and I have seen it while playing in the ICL or touring with the national team," he added.
"As far as Pakistani players are concerned whenever the Indians allow us and invite us to play in the IPL I don`t see any issues for us in playing there," he stated.
Earlier, the PCB has made it clear that it wanted the Pakistani players to play in this year`s IPL but got no response from their Indian counterparts on the issue.
Pakistan`s ODI captain Shahid Afridi also agreed with Razzaq and said, "It is their loss not ours. I have no regrets for not being part of the IPL again."
PTI
