Call for ban on Indian films in Pak in response to players' IPL snub

Lahore, Jan.26 (ANI): The Lahore High Court (LHC) has summoned the Ministry of Sports and Culture and the Association of Film Producers Lahore High Court (LHC) on February 9 to submit its reply on a petition seeking a ban on the screening of Indian films in Pakistan.

LHC Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif also directed the petitioner, Muhammad Hussain, to help the court to decide as to why Indian films should be banned.

The petitioner's counsel, Ishtiaq Ahmed Chaudhry, said the whole of Pakistan has been 'humiliated' by the Indian Premier League's (IPL) decision not to include any Pakistani cricketers in the T20 league's next edition.

Chaudhry pleaded that the government should ban Indian films unless the Indian government does not apologise for the disregard shown to the Pakistani players. (ANI)

Modi, Afridi signal easing of IPL-Pak row

NEW DELHI/KARACHI: In a clear shift towards a spirit of accommodation, Indian Premier League

commissioner Lalit Modi said on Tuesday that a "window of possibility" was still open for Pakistani cricketers to play in IPL-3 and in the Champions League later this year.

Pakistan T20 captain Shahid Afridi too seemed ready to "forgive and forget", and said he was willing to play in India if picked by an IPL team.

Modi's remarks came a day after home minister P Chidambaram criticized IPL organizers for doing a "disservice to cricket" by ignoring Pakistani players during the auction.

"Some teams have still not finished their quota of players and some players could drop out. Franchises can choose Pakistani players as replacements or to fill vacancies," Modi told a TV channel.

Modi insisted the issue was not mishandled, the government had "no say" in the auction and it was the franchisees' decision to not pick Pakistan players.

Meanwhile in Pakistan, which is still smarting over the snub to its players at the auction, Afridi came up with a statesman-like comment.

"When you think about it, Pakistan and India have much more in common than there are differences. We need to build our relations rather than break them. Sport should be used to build peace between our great nations, not break them... Although Pakistan and India have borders, these borders cannot divide humanity," said the former Deccan Chargers player. 

Pakistan players can still join IPL: Lalit Modi

Indian Premier League chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said the recent auction does not suggest that the doors of cash rich Twenty20 league are shut on Pakistani players, and they can still be part of the third edition if some players drop out.
None of the 11 Pakistani players was picked in last week's auction, leaving the cricketers angry and humiliated. The issue has now snowballed into a diplomatic row with Pakistan calling it a deliberate ploy of India.
Things got so bitter that the Pakistan authorities declared that none of their players will feature in the IPL next year and also the Champions League Twenty20.
Modi, however, said he is hopeful that Pakistani players will return in future editions of IPL.
"I am sure the Pakistani players will return," Modi told CNN-IBN. "We will discuss this with the Pakistan board officials when we meet them."
"Some teams have still not finished their quota of players and some players can still drop out. In that case, franchises can choose Pakistani players as replacements."
Modi also denied any mishandling in the IPL auction, and insisted that the decision to leave out Pakistani players was only of the franchisees. He also cleared that no directions had come from the government in this regard.
"I don't think that there's any mishandling, the franchisees decided on their own," Modi said. "We never said in the first place that the government in any way nudged us in that direction. So it was a decision that was taken by the franchisees and let's leave it at that. There was no pre-decision."
"They were all worried about the availability and that's why the Australians weren't picked up along with many other players and all that we keep hearing now is one story - about not bidding for Pakistani cricketers."

Decision to ignore Pak players taken by franchisees: Modi

NEW DELHI/KARACHI: IPL chairman Lalit Modi said on Tuesday that it was the franchisees' decision to not Pakistan players.
Modi, when asked whether it was decided beforehand that teams would ignore Pakistan players, said: "There was no pre-decision. They (franchisees) were all worried about availability and that's why the Australians weren't picked along with many other players. All that we keep hearing now is one story - about nobody bidding for Pakistani cricketers."

Modi also said there was no government involvement in the affair. "The franchisees decide on their own. Government has no say. We never said in the first place that the government in any which way nudged us in that direction. It was a decision was taken by the franchisees and let's leave it at that," he said.

On PCB's statement that it would not release Pakistani players for the future IPL editions, Modi said, "We will discuss this with the Pakistan board officials when we meet them and I am sure the Pakistani players will return."

Modi refused to react to Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan's comments that "if there were issues they should have been put on board earlier".

He also didn't say much on Rajasthan Royals coach Darren Berry's comment that he was keen to pick Umar Akmal but could not. "I can't comment on something they should have done... At the end of the day it was the franchisees' decision, we don't decide on picking any player."

Meanwhile, in a statement on a Pakistani website, Afridi said he was hurt and angry initially but now he could see reason and was open to playing in IPL or Champions League.

"After the IPL auction I was deeply hurt and angry. The way Pakistani players were treated was disrespectful and in my view wrong. In times like these, as a Muslim the examples of our Prophet has guided me and I'm therefore willing to forgive and forget what has happened and to look ahead," he said.

Afridi said he would be happy to play in India as fans there have always welcomed him. He also made it clear that since South Australia had qualified for the Champions League Twenty20, he would be available to play for the Australian state side in the event in India this year.

Meanwhile, paceman Sohail Tanvir, who played for Rajasthan Royals in the first edition, echoed Afridi's sentiment. "I have nothing personal against India and if any opportunity arises in future where I am invited to play in the IPL or Champions League, I will definitely go if my seniors do the same," he said.

"Look, when I went to India with the Pakistan team in 2007 and after that for the IPL inaugural season, I was warmly welcomed and treated well. It (the snub) came as a rude shock. It was very sad but, like I said, if our board and senior players say we should go I will also go to play in India," he added. 

Australia takes unbeatable lead

Australia defeated Pakistan by 40 runs in the third One Day International at the Adelaide Oval, and took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Man of the Match Ryan Harris claimed five wickets for 43 runs to help Australia bowl out Pakistan for 246.

For Australia, there were fifties from Shaun Marsh and Michael Clarke, but it was Mike Hussey’s 28-ball 49 that pushed the side to 286 for six.

Harris, who had been called in as a late replacement for the injured Peter Siddle, struck in his first over with the wicket of Kamran Akmal, leg before. Pakistan was in trouble before Umar Akmal, and thereafter, Shahid Afridi, induced visions of a fightback.

But Harris ensured he engineered both dismissals. He removed Umar first with one that nipped in to find the outside edge, and later on in the innings, brilliantly yorked Afridi to bring the batsman’s blistering innings to an end.

Afridi’s 29-ball 40 included four fours and a six. Harris then scalped Umar Gul and Naved-ul-Hasan to ease his side to the series win.

Earlier, Australia’s innings benefitted from crucial partnerships and Hussey’s late surge. Marsh and Clarke batted well to make 83 and 80 respectively. Pakistan’s fields were defensive, and both batsmen found easy singles and twos.

Australia’s approach was more aggressive in the last ten overs. Pakistan’s fielding standards dropped further, as Clarke and Hussey accelerated. 95 runs came from the last 10 overs, which ended up making the difference.

The scores: Australia: S. Watson b Asif 33, S. Marsh st Kamran Akmal b Ajmal 83, R. Ponting lbw b Naved-ul-Hasan 0, M. Clarke b Gul 80, C. White c Kamran Akmal b Naved-ul-Hasan 28, M. Hussey c Younis b Gul 49, B. Haddin (not out) 1, N. Hauritz (not out) 0; Extras: (b-1, lb-1, w-5, nb-5) 12; Total: (six wickets; 50 overs) 286.

Fall of wickets: 1-63, 2-64, 3-149, 4-204, 5-284, 6-284.

Pakistan bowling: Asif 10-0-51-1, Gul 10-1-80-2, Naved-ul-Hasan 10-0-57-2, Afridi 10-0-55-0, Ajmal 10-0-41-1.

Pakistan: S. Butt lbw b McKay 34, K. Akmal lbw b Harris 1, Younis Khan c Haddin b McKay 12, M. Yousuf b Watson 11, U. Akmal c Haddin b Harris 59, F. Alam b McKay 33, S. Afridi b Harris 40, Naved-ul-Hasan c White b Harris 33, U. Gul c Haddin b Harris 0, S. Ajmal (not out) 8, M. Asif c Haddin b Hauritz 1; Extras: (lb-11, w-3) 14; Total: (47.4 overs) 246.

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-47, 3-58, 4-60, 5-145, 6-168, 7-226, 8-226, 9-238.

Australia bowling: Bollinger 9-0-35-0, Harris 10-0-43-5, Watson 9-0-66-1, McKay 10-1-48-3, Hauritz 7.4-0-37-1, Clarke 2-0-6-0.