Pakistan's government is considering allowing three Pakistan players to compete in next year's Indian Premier League, after they were locked out of the competition in 2009. The Pakistan Cricket Board has asked for No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the sports ministry for fast bowlers Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir, along with allrounder Abdul Razzaq, to take part in the IPL in March-April 2010. "The (sports) ministry has referred the NOC cases of these players to the foreign office and interior ministry for political and security clearance," spokesman Faik Ali told the Associated Press. "We processed the cases of these players on the very same day on urgent basis and we do hope to get the reply from both ministries by next week. "The sports ministry has no objection that its players go and compete in IPL, but we have to seek the government's clearance." Pakistan's government barred its players from taking part in the lucrative Twenty20 league this year in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks and consequent strained political relations between the neighboring countries. Even when the 2009 IPL was shifted to South Africa, Pakistan players could not compete because their contracts had been terminated or suspended. Recently Pakistan snooker and squash players had competed in India, but local media reported Wednesday that sports minister Aftab Jillani said sending cricketers to India would be a "risky affair." "Unlike snooker and other sports, cricket is a spectators' game where there is always a risk of players' interaction with extremists," Jillani was quoted in English daily The News. "India is not a safe place when it comes to sending Pakistan cricketers at this point of time. It is unlikely that the players would be allowed to visit India to participate in the league." However, the spokesman denied the report. "The minister never said that, we have a procedure to follow," Ali said. "Our (sports) ministry has forwarded the cases of three players to the concerned ministries and now we will wait for their response," Ali said. The IPL has extended a deadline for the PCB to submit NOCs of players until Dec. 7. In 2008, 11 Pakistan players competed in the first edition of IPL. Only four players were retained by their respective franchises after Mumbai attacks but their contracts remained suspended.
