After the entire furore created over their exclusion, veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has become the first Pakistani player to fetch an Indian Premier League contract this year, signing up with Deccan Chargers.
Reliable sources close to the player told PTI that Razzaq, a former recruit of the rebel Indian Cricket League, and Chargers had reached an agreement under which the Pakistani would play as a 'substitute' for West Indian pacer Fidel Edwards.
"The contract has been finalised and it should be announced soon," a source said.
Razzaq's selection could put an end to the bad blood created between the two countries after Pakistani cricketers were not bid for during the IPL players' auction.
Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi had appeared for the Chargers in the first IPL season in 2008.
After being snubbed at the auction, Pakistani cricketers had claimed that they were deliberately humiliated by the IPL franchises, a charge that later snowballed into a political controversy.
After being snubbed at the the auction, Pakistani cricketers had alleged that they were deliberately humiliated by the IPL franchises, a charge that later snowballed into a political controversy.
Pakistan's minister Ejaz Jakhrani even called on the Indian government to hold an inquiry into the IPL's conduct in the matter.
Indian sports minister M S Gill on Monday said the IPL had faulted and he would like to see Pakistani players in action in the coming season.
When contacted Razzaq refused to confirm the story but said he has got an offer to play in the IPL this year.
"At the moment I don't want to say anything but yes the Kolkata Knight Riders had given me a contract offer through which I got a visa and then they backed out insisting I would have to appear in the players auction list," Razzaq said.
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said after the players auction fiasco that franchises could play Pakistanis as substitutes in the coming season if they replaced a foreign signing.
