IPL rejection should not mar bilateral ties: MEA

Distancing itself from the issue of Pakistan cricketers not getting any buyers in the IPL,the government on Thursday said this episode should not have any adverse ramifications over the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs has made it clear that the government has absolutely no problems with Pakistani cricketers coming to India and the treatment meted out to them by the IPL was a private matter of the organizers.

The MEA said all 16 Pakistani players had already been issued visas before January 13 to pave their way to play in the country. Some of the Pakistani players had applied from visas from third countries like New Zealand and the government had in fact expedited their requests.

Pakistan has already reacted strongly to the ‘insult’ of its players by the IPL organizers.