Few Pak players still keen to play in IPL

Danish Kaneria has fetched the highest base price among his compatriots for the IPL second edition players' auction.

Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria,who did not feature in the inaugural Indian Premier League,has fetched the highest base price among his compatriots for the IPL second edition players’ auction to be held on February 6.

Kaneria has been given a base price of USD 100,000 in the players auction,the highest among the five Pakistani players who will feature in the auction in which 111 players from all over the world will be up for sale for the eight franchises that play in the IPL.

The leg spinner was not recommended by the Pakistan Cricket Board last year for the IPL auction. “I am happy to be on the auction list because I am hungry for success in one-day and Twenty20 formats,” Kaneria said. He said he wants to prove that he could be as much a success in Twenty20 cricket as he was in Test matches.

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“There can’t be a bigger platform then the IPL to prove oneself against the best players in the world. Let us see what happens but right now at least I have been recommended by the IPL,” he said.

Pakistan’s other players in the IPL auction include batsmen Yasir Hameed and Asim Kamal and allrounders Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Hafeez.

Yasir has fetched a base price of USD 75,000 but the rest have been given a comparatively low base price not more then USD 30,000 for one year.

But with relations between Pakistan and India not very warm in the wake of last year’s Mumbai terror strikes doubts remain whether any franchise would bid for Pakistan players.

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Already,some of the Pakistani players signed up with the IPL,who were put up in the transfer window didn’t invite new bids including fast bowler,Shoaib Akhtar.