New Delhi, January 21
With the IPL snub of Pakistani cricketers threatening to escalate into a diplomatic row, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna today unequivocally stated that the government had no role to play in the auction of players for the upcoming T-20 tournament.

“The government has nothing to do with IPL, selection of players and various exercises connected with it,’’ Krishna told reporters here.

The treatment meted out to Pakistan cricketers in Tuesday’s auction for the lucrative IPL tournament has outraged the leadership as well as cricketers in Pakistan, who are blaming the Indian Government for their humiliation. None of the top Pak cricketers could make the cut in the IPL auction with team owners showing reluctance to bid for them. Krishna also stated that Pakistan would have to draw a line between where the Indian Government was connected and where it was merely an actor.

The Ministry of External Affairs also came out with a detailed clarification on the entire controversy, rebutting the accusation of the government’s involvement in the IPL auction. “The government has seen reports attributing the absence of Pakistani cricketers from IPL 2010, to be held in India, to apprehension about the players getting necessary Indian visas. Such apprehension is completely misplaced,” MEA’s statement said.