Pak snub should not have happened: Azhar

Kolkata: Congress MP and former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin Monday batted for the inclusion of Pakistan cricketers in the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying the best players should take part in the tournament irrespective of their nationality.

"In a tournament like IPL, the best players should play irrespective of whether they come from Australia, India or any other country," Azharuddin told mediapersons on the sidelines of a rally.

But he hastened to add that he was not speaking as a Congress MP. "But I think this shouldn't have happened. Everybody should have got a chance," he said, referring the refusal of IPL teams to rope in Pakistani players.

The former Indian skipper said the best players in the world should play in the IPL.

IPL franchise owners did not bid for Pakistani players during the auction for the third edition of the Twenty20 league beginning next month, triggering a diplomatic row.

Asked how much India will miss the injured Yuvraj Singh and Rahul Dravid in the coming home series opposite South Africa, Azharuddin said: "I think we can do well in this series."

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