Akram Can't Do Commentary in CL

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain and expert commentator Wasim Akram has been denied permission by the Indian government to do commentary in the Champions League tournament starting in India from October 8.

According to a newspaper report, Wasim, who was in Johannesburg covering the Champions Trophy was all set to fly to India for his fresh stint in the Champions League T20 tournament.

"But, at the last moment, he was informed by the tournament organisers that his services were no longer required," the report said.

"Wasim was surprised to learn about this and was later explained unofficially that the Indian Cricket Board had told the organisers to avoid inviting Wasim to India because of policy instructions from the government," the report added.

Interestingly, Wasim was invited by the Pakistan Cricket Board to supervise a coaching camp for the fast bowlers, in Lahore, in October but he had declined the offer due to his commentary commitments in the Champions League tournament.

The former fast bowling great had told reporters in Johannesburg that before planning to set up any camp or inviting him, the Pakistan board should atleast find out from the players what their commitments were.

The report said that the Indian government had apparently advised the BCCI that since no Pakistani player or team was featuring in the Champions League, it should avoid inviting Pakistani cricketers to India.

However, the report didn't clarify whether Wasim would still be going to India to hold a short coaching camp for the Kolkata Knight Riders players.

Wasim had told reporters in Johannesburg that he had been asked by the KKR management to hold the camp when he visited India for the tournament.

Relations between Pakistan and India have been at a low ebb ever since the Mumbai terror attacks last November.