KARACHI, Feb 7: Pakistan cricketers got a raw deal from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and were paid less than what they deserved, said Younis Khan after watching English players fetch record bids in the league’s second season auction despite their limited availability.

Pakistan players will not be a part of IPL’s second season after their government did not allow them to travel to India on security grounds after relations between the two countries nosedived in the aftermath of Nov 26 Mumbai incident. Prior to the Pakistan government’s decision, the Indian government had cancelled its cricket squad’s scheduled visit to Pakistan in January-February.

Younis, the newly appointed Pakistan skipper, said after watching the Englishmen Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff fetch a record-breaking $1.55 million each at Friday’s auction in Goa, he wondered whether his country’s cricketers were paid less last season.

Flintoff and Pietersen would be able to play just three weeks of the six-week tournament that is scheduled to be staged in April-May.

“Unlike other countries, particularly Pakistan, where players rushed to get into the IPL, the English cricket board and their players avoided the first season. As a result, their demand has increased for the second season,” Younis noted.

“In contrast, Pakistani players have got themselves a raw deal from the IPL. Look at Sohail Tanvir. He was brought for just around $100,000 and he was the best bowler in the first season. Yet he has to manage with the same amount for the rest of his contract with Rajasthan Royals,” the skipper pointed out.

“In comparison to Pakistani players even local Indians fetched bigger prices, which was surprising. Someone like [middle-order batsman] Misbah-ul-Haq, who was the best Twenty20 batsman last season, hardly got a reasonable price,” Younis added. —Agencies