Pakistani cricketer Sohail Tanveer during an Asia Cup match in Karachi in June 2008. Pakistan's sports minister said Wednesday that his ministry had asked the government to allow cricketers to play in the official Indian league, saying security was the main area of concern.
©AFP - Aamir Qureshi

KARACHI (AFP) - Pakistan's sports minister said Wednesday that his ministry had asked the government to allow cricketers to play in the official Indian league, saying security was the main area of concern.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) applied for the go-ahead from the ministry for players to feature in the third edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in March-April next year.

Federal sports minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani said the PCB's request had been forwarded to the government.

"We have forwarded the PCB's request to the foreign office but there are several issues to be solved in this matter, primarily the security of the players," Jilani told AFP.

The IPL has extended the deadline for Pakistani players to get government clearance until December 7, raising hopes that the players will get the necessary permission in time.

But Jilani said the government needed security assurances for the players.

"Last year the foreign office refused permission because of security and the stance has not changed. We need complete security assurances for our players before allowing them to play.

"If the PCB takes assurance from the stakeholders then the matter will be solved. We are positive on this but the procedure has to be followed," said Jilani.

Relations with India deteriorated in the wake of last November's attacks in Mumbai, which New Delhi blamed on militants based across the border.

By the time the IPL was relocated to South Africa, following India's refusal to provide adequate security as the event overlapped with parliamentary elections, Pakistani players' contracts were already terminated or suspended.

Eleven players -- Younus Khan, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanveer, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Asif and Shahid Afridi -- participated in the first edition held in India in 2008.

The PCB last week said it had given permission to Gul, Abdul Razzaq and Tanveer to play in the IPL, a step Jilani termed a "violation of government's rules".