Krishna: Govt had no role in IPL auction

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Thursday said the government had no role to play in the exclusion of Pakistani players from IPL teams.With an outcry building in Pakistan over the IPL auctions, Krishna clarified that the government had nothing to do with the team selections. "The government has nothing to do with IPL or the selection and rating of players. Pakistan will have to draw that line between where the Indian government is connected," Krishna said.

Earlier, Sports Minister M.S. Gill had said that neither his ministry nor the government had in any way nudged the IPL teams not to pick the Pakistani players.

During the IPL auctions held in Mumbai on Tuesday, no team bid for the 11 Pakistani players, including Shahid Afridi. The teams later said the decision was taken because of apprehensions about the availability of the players.

The issue has blown into a diplomatic row between the two countries with the Pakistan National Assembly deciding not to send any parliamentary delegation to India. Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Butt has welcomed the decision.

The Opposition parties in Pakistan are mounting pressure on the government to escalate the matter with New Delhi. Even Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has demanded an apology from India.