Two Pakistan umpires to officiate IPL matches

Karachi, Jan 30 (PTI) Pakistan cricketers may not featurein the Indian Premier League, but two umpires from the country-- Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf -- have been included in the panelof umpires for the fourth edition of the hugely successfulleague.

Sources in the Pakistan board said that the BCCI hadasked for the two umpires, particularly Dar, to be allowed toofficiate in the IPL matches.

"Both will go to India for the IPL games with theapproval of the PCB and the International Cricket Councilafter officiating in the World Cup," a source said.

Dar was named the ICC umpire of the year for the secondsuccessive year recently, while Rauf is also on the ICC eliteumpires panel.

The IPL will be held in India from April 8 to May 22 but,for the third year running, none of the franchisees would behaving Pakistani players.

One source said that Pakistan''s former Test player andnational team manager, Talat Ali, would also be featuring inthe IPL.

"It is unfortunate that once again the Indian board hasnot shown interest in allowing our players to take part in theIPL but, as it is, our players would be engaged in a Test andone-day series in the West Indies during that period," asource said.