Indian experts blast Pakistani counterparts for gloating about under-19 WORLD CUP win over india and linking it with IPL snub

India's cricketing fraternity hits back at Pak counterparts

Indian experts blast Pakistani counterparts for gloating about under-19 World Cup win over India and linking it with IPL snub

Pakistan's cricketing fraternity was quick to connect the Indian Premier League snub on their players to Pakistan's under-19 World Cup quarter-final triumph over India on Saturday.

Former players Rameez Raja, Basit Ali and Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Butt spoke about the win in NZ showing the world how talented their country's cricketers were and what a shame it was not to see the seniors in any of the Indian Premier League teams.

The Pakistanis may feel left out, but several Indian experts reckon they are over-reacting. "I am surprised that Rameez brought up the IPL issue after Pakistan won the under-19 game.

"He has been a player, administrator and a well-travelled commentator. This was completely unexpected from someone like him. The IPL issue has nothing to do with Pakistan beating India at a different level," said Anshuman Gaekwad, who was India coach when Test cricket between both countries resumed in 1999 after a ten-year gap.

Disgruntled
"They are surely disgruntled and are not quite rational with their utterances," said former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi from New Delhi.

Former BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele's first reaction to Rameez and Co was, "they are crazy."

"It was a match reduced to 23 overs and I am sure India would have triumphed had it been a 50-over game. In any case, how is Pakistan vindicated in an IPL-related controversy after an under-19 match win?" added Lele.

Rameez shocker
Gaekwad was sad to see an otherwise balanced Rameez join the alarmists' gang. "He jumped on a wagon which had no wheels," he said. "No one is denying Pakistan has talent but you can't equate under-19 ability to the IPL. Some players in the under-19 team don't make it to state cricket because they can't handle the pressure."
However, Bedi and Gaekwad felt the Pakistan issue should have been handled better by the IPL bosses.

"If their players were not going to be picked, why was there IPL-related communication with the Pakistani board?

"Where was the need to talk to Ejaz Butt (Pakistan Cricket Board chief) and why lead them up the garden path?" asked Bedi.