Pakistan players will not be involved in the third edition of the Indian Premier League next year due to an ongoing delay in obtaining visas for the event.
The Pakistan government barred its players from travelling to India for the second edition of the IPL this year, and they stayed at home even after the Twenty20 tournament was moved to South Africa.
The Pakistan Cricket Board was keen on its players participating in the third edition in India and, although the government has this time cleared the team to participate, the players have not yet been furnished with visas.
IPL chairman Lalit Modi said: "We have been informed by the PCB that they have not been able to obtain the visas as of now.
"December 7 was the absolute deadline for confirmation of Pakistan players. We will not extend the deadline because we are handicapped because of the exchange window.
"Unfortunately, Pakistan's players are out and will not be allowed to take part in the next IPL. We are informing the teams that they can now go for replacement of Pakistan players."
Five Pakistan players - Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Abdul Razzaq, Misbah-ul Haq and Kamran Akmal - have contracts in place with IPL teams.
Contracts for seven others, including Younus Khan and Shoaib Akhtar, were terminated prior to the second edition of the League this year after the Pakistan government refused to sanction permission for players to participate due to security concerns arising from the terrorist attack in Mumbai.
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