Go Paki Go - IPL teams hope to field Pakistan players again

IPL teams hope to field Pakistan players again

	Sohail Tanvir could represent Rajasthan Royals at Lord's next month © AFP

Pakistan's title win in the ICC World Twenty20 has sparked a buzz among the IPL franchises who are now hoping that players from the victorious team will be available to play in the league next year. It may happen sooner rather than later: Sohail Tanvir could play for his IPL franchise next month, when Rajasthan Royals, the 2008 champions, play Middlesex at Lord's in a one-off game.

Manoj Badale, the Royals co-owner, told Cricinfo that Tanvir, who was part of Rajasthan's IPL-winning team last year, will play the game on July 6, "subject to availability". The match between Rajasthan and Middlesex Panthers, last year's English Twenty20 champions, will take place two days before the first Ashes Test and is being organised by the British Asian Trust. Pakistan are scheduled to start their Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on July 4 but Tanvir does not figure in the 15-member national squad.

Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, is clear that the league has "no problems" letting Pakistani players play the next edition in India in March 2010 but said it's for the governments of the two countries to decide. And franchise officials are now hoping for some clarity to emerge on the issue after political tensions between India and Pakistan prevented those players from participating in this year's competition.

Joy Bhattacharya, team director of Kolkata Knight Riders, said all the IPL teams would "definitely welcome them back" if Pakistan players were made available next year. Amrit Mathur, chief operating officer of Delhi Daredevils, said they would "look at recruiting more players" from the World Twenty20-winning team, if such an opportunity arose. Ray Jennings, coach of Royal Bangalore Challengers, said that the return of Pakistan players would be a "very good thing" that will strengthen the system.

Eleven Pakistani players, including Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, the stars of Pakistan's World Twenty20 campaign, were recruited by the Kolkata, Rajasthan, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore franchises before the inaugural IPL. However, the franchises opted to retain the contracts of only four of them - Akmal and Tanvir (Rajasthan), Misbah-ul-Haq (Bangalore) and Gul (Kolkata) - after it became clear that they would not be able to play in the second season of the league.

Even these four contracts are on a suspended status after the terror attacks in Mumbai last year led to a chill in political ties between India and Pakistan. In fact, no Pakistani team has been invited for this October's Champions League, the multi-nation, inter-club competition jointly organised by the boards of India, South Africa and Australia. "We have no problems in letting the Pakistan players play," Modi, who is also chairman of Champions League, told Cricinfo. "It's for the two governments to decide. The Pakistan government has to clear their players to play in India and the Indian government has to allow them to play here."

"We have always wanted the Pakistani players," Bhattacharya said. "Gul, especially, is a valuable player for Kolkata. Why only Kolkata? I am sure every IPL team would welcome them back. But we are aware that there are extraneous factors that will influence any decision on this issue."

Kolkata also had Shoaib Akhtar and Salman Butt in their squad in 2008 but chose to terminate the two contracts. "Pakistan has some of the best Twenty20 players and the title win in England only proved that," Bhattacharya said. "To a large extent, the format suits players from Pakistan. Fast swing bowling and natural, uncomplicated batting is what Twenty20 demand and Pakistan have those."

Mathur said that Delhi hoped for clarity to emerge on the issue soon. "We had two Pakistan players in the first year and if they are made available next year, we will look at signing more players from the Pakistan team," he said.

Delhi had signed Shoaib Malik, the former Pakistan captain, and fast bowler Mohammad Asif in 2008 but terminated both contracts. Asif's contract was terminated after the player was banned for a year following an adverse dope result during the inaugural IPL edition.

Deccan Chargers, the IPL champions this year, had signed Shahid Afridi for US$675,000 in 2008 but chose to terminate his contract this year when they were informed that he would not be allowed to play. "There is no point looking back," PK Iyer, the managing director of Chargers' parent company, Deccan Holdings, said. "The South Africans were the flavour of the season this year, and it could be the Pakistanis next time. But it is not in our hands."

Jennings, who coached Bangalore to the IPL final this year, said that Misbah is a "key player" for his team. "It would be a very good thing if they are made available," Jennings said. "The more players that are available, the better it is for the system. But having said that, it is not for me to decide."

Rajasthan, meanwhile, were keen to field Akmal, too, at Lord's next month but the wicket-keeper has been named in the Pakistan squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka and will not be available for the charity game. The Royals had also signed up Younis Khan last year but opted to terminate his contract later. On Sunday though, the Pakistan captain turned his back on the Indian league and announced that he won't play the Twenty20 format any longer.

Ajay Shankar is a deputy editor at Cricinfo

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Cellphone Operators Criticise Tax on SMS, Seek Withdrawal

Cellphone operators have decided to approach the finance ministry to seek withdrawal of 20 paisa tax per SMS, which they say will hamper growth of the industry.

The News learnt that cellular operators have started evolving a strategy and are preparing to make a presentation to the finance ministry. Before going to the ministry, top-notch officials of cellular operators will separately meet with each other in a couple of days to make their case strong.

Officers of one operator are also considering approaching the Competition Commission to look into the matter, as according to them the government has given extra support to one company at the cost of the whole industry.

The government in the budget for 2009-10, slapped a new 20 paisa tax per SMS in addition to the rate specified for the telecommunication sector. At present, all mobile phone companies except one are offering bulk SMS packages, which are seen as greatly favourable for consumers.

However, the new levy will reduce revenues of all operators and will also make charging rates complex, as currently most of them are offering unlimited SMS at a fixed rate.

According to data collected from the industry, out of 90 million registered cellular customers, over 45 million use the SMS service, each sending an average of seven SMS daily. Daily SMS traffic in the country is estimated at around 315 million and monthly traffic at around one billion.

The Pakistani market is very responsive to SMS-based packages. There has been tremendous growth in SMS usage, estimated at 30 per cent in recent years.

Interestingly, one company earned about $50 million from SMS service during 2008-09. But the government’s decision will affect the business of this company too.

However, cellular phone companies have appreciated the government’s announcement to reduce SIM activation tax to Rs250 from Rs500. But they are unhappy with the cut in federal excise duty/general sales tax, terming it insufficient. This tax was not reduced according to their demand to 16 per cent, the equivalent rate of GST for other sectors.

In this year’s budget, the federal government has reduced general sales tax to 19pc from 21pc. In last year’s budget, the telecom industry was the only industry which had been imposed with a 21pc GST.

via THE NEWS

Manager HR, Huawei likely to Sue Company for Illegal Termination

HR Manager of Huawei, is likely to file a lawsuit against Huawei for his illegal (forced) separation from the company, ProPakistani came to know via an exclusive conversation with Mr. Jehanzeb, HR Manager, Huawei.

Mr. Jehanzeb, who joined HUAWEI on Nov 21, 2007, was of the view that he is permanent employee of the company; however, he was separated illegally as he was raising voice and concern to follow labor laws of the land i.e. Harassment on workplace, Indiscrimination, payment of Gratuity in the absence of Provident Fund and Overtime (beyond 20 hours) to their employees.

Huawei is the only telecom company in Pakistan who is providing medical and life insurance facilities “only to their permanent employees”, not covering their dependents and its contractual staff in the absence of Social Security Registration. He said that such sudden separation of permanent employees is against the state laws and charter of ILO (International Labor Organization).

It merits mentioning here that International Labor Organization (ILO) charter explicitly defines that dismissal of permanent employees without any obligation is illegal.

Interestingly, Mr. Jehanzeb has not been served with either suspension or termination letter yet and he still considers himself as the HR Manager of the company and has not been paid salary since Jan 2009. Moreover, he told us that Huawei has advertised in “THE NEWS” to fill in the same position which is illegal.

When we contacted Advisor & Director PR, Huawei, Mr. Naseem Usmani, he refused to talk about it but later on said that Mr. Jehanzeb should consult court and instead of asking the company or expecting anything from it to fulfill “legal duties & responsibilities”.

When we asked Mr. Jehanzeb about his plans to resolve the issue he said, “I will announce my future strategy very soon in a press conference to tackle issue in best possible and professional manner”

Furthermore he added that he has multiple options to go with, such as stay-order for filling HR Manager’s position, consulting ILO or appeal to Chief Justice of Pakistan for Suo Moto Action. “I am also thinking to write letters to Huawei customers worldwide to show them its real face towards its employees” Mr. Jehanzeb declared