Pakistan's cricket authorities Friday revoked certificates allowing the country's cricketers to participate in the Indian Premier League, after none of the players were selected in an alleged snub. “Pakistan Cricket Board announces, for clarification purposes, that all NOCs (no objection certificates) issued to Pakistani players for their participation in the Indian Premier League stand revoked,” said a release by the PCB. “In the future, if any player receives an invitation for participation in IPL events, PCB will decide the matter on a case to case basis after consulting the relevant government authorities.” The announcement came two days after all-rounder Abdul Razzaq claimed he had received an invitation to play in the IPL's third edition in March-April this year, after no Pakistani player was bought in a Jan. 19 IPL auction. The failure of any of Pakistan's 11 players to make the teams prompted sports figures and some politicians to claim it was a deliberate snub by arch-rival India, and the sports minister made a formal complaint. The PCB chairman last week said no Pakistani player will be allowed to feature in the IPL after the disastrous auction. The omission triggered widespread protests in Pakistan with effigies of IPL chief Lalit Modi burnt on the streets of Lahore amid condemnation from politicians and threats of boycotts from other Pakistani sports teams. Hopes of Pakistani players' future inclusion in the lucrative IPL's third season were raised, however, when Indian home minister P. Chidambaram showed disappointment over the players' exclusion. “I think it is a disservice to cricket that some of these players were not picked,” Chidambaram said earlier this week. “I don't know why the IPL teams acted in the manner they acted. But certainly to suggest that there was a hint or nudge from the government is completely untrue.” Modi also said he hoped Pakistani players may return to the IPL. “Some teams have still not finished their quota of players and some players can still drop out. In that case, franchises can choose Pakistani players as replacements,” Modi was quoted as saying in Indian media. Eleven Pakistani players featured in the IPL's first edition in 2008. Pakistan's government barred the players from competing in the IPL's second edition in 2009 following increased tension between the two countries after New Delhi blamed the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai on Pakistan-based militants. New Zealand to announce new coach today Former Australian Test batsman Darren Lehmann is among the candidates to be the new coach of New Zealand's national cricket team. Lehmann, 39, confirmed Friday he had been in talks with New Zealand Cricket, initially about a role as a specialist batting coach. He is now seen as a leading candidate to fill the job left vacant when Englishman Andy Moles quit in October. The board of New Zealand Cricket met in Christchurch Friday and said the new coach would be named Saturday. Former New Zealand Test batsmen Jeff Crowe, now an ICC match referee, and Mark Greatbatch are among others who have been linked to the role. NZC earlier this week dismissed reports that former South African coach Mickey Arthur, who quit his post Tuesday, was in line for the appointment. New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has been acting as New Zealand's coach, as well as a national selector, since Moles resigned on Oct. 24, reportedly after critical appraisals of his performance from senior players. Lehmann said Friday that New Zealand was a talented young side with the potential to significantly improve its world standing. The South Australian, who currently coaches the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League, played 27 Tests and 117 limited-over internationals for Australia between 1996 and 2005. He is also president of the Australian players association and is regarded as a popular candidate with New Zealand's players. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Ross Taylor has been named “standby captain” and will lead the New Zealand team if Vettori is sidelined for any reason during upcoming series against Bangladesh and Australia.
