BANGALORE, Jan 31: Escalating tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of last November’s Mumbai terror attacks has put the IPL franchises in a dilemma whether to bid for the five Pakistani cricketers in the auction slated for Feb 6 in Goa.

T A Sekar, consultant and one of the managing committee member of the Delhi Daredevils, said: “It is still ambiguous whether Pakistani players will be extended visas by the Indian government for the matches starting April 10.

“There has been many positives about the rules for the second edition of the Indian Premier League but this clause of including the Pakistanis among the 114 players available for bids at Goa is still unclear.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board is also testing the waters having denied permission to its hockey and squash players to compete in tournaments in India this year,” he added.

However, those who have been visiting the country and have a five-year visa like Wasim Akram, could be considered by the franchises.

“The IPL franchise officials have to work hard to get to know which of the five players cleared by PCB hold five-year visas like Wasim and others. As of now, we understand that fresh visas are not being extended to Pakistani nationals. It is also to be seen whether the atmosphere and the relations between the countries hold good by the time the second edition starts,” Sekar said.

Pakistan Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani said on Friday that the ministry has extended no objection certificates to players to compete in the IPL this year. Asim Kamal, Yasir Hameed, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Hafeez and Yasir Arafat are the five players who have been listed as available from Pakistan for bidding at the Goa auction.

On Jan 2, Pakistan government refused permission to its national hockey and squash teams to participate in tournaments in India citing security concerns after New Delhi had denied its cricket team to play a scheduled Test series in Pakistan following the Mumbai terror attacks.

Last year, Pakistani cricketers including new captain, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal featured in the IPL for different teams.

Talking about the rules for this edition’s IPL, Sekar feels that some of them would provide a level playing field.—Agencies