By IANS
Karachi : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to set up a policy framework this week to govern its players who have signed up with the million-dollar Indian Premier League (IPL).
PCB chief operating officer (COO) Shafqat Naghmi said the policy needed to be put in place for the IPL recruited players as the schedule of the Twenty20 extravaganza coincides with national commitments.
“We believe players need to give preference to national commitments. Therefore, the governing body will decide on a clear policy next week regarding players playing for IPL,” Naghmi said here Tuesday.
The IPL, which starts April 18, overlaps Pakistan’s proposed ODI series against Bangladesh.
Following the postponement of Australia’s tour to Pakistan this month due to security reasons, the PCB has invited Bangladesh to fill the slot and play five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 match, tentatively to start from April 6.
The PCB’s decision came after the West Indies Cricket Board expressed fears of losing its best three batsmen – Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnaraine Chanderpaul – for the home series against Australia slated for May-June because of their IPL commitments.
A dozen Pakistan cricketers, including captain Shoaib Malik, speedster Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, have signed up to play in the IPL.