Centre has no role in IPL selection: Krishna

New Delhi, Jan 21 (ANI): Responding to comments made by Pakistan Interior Minister A Rehman Malik with regard to the non-selection of Pakistani players in the third season of the Indian Premier League. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Thursday said the Centre had no role in the selection of players for the tournament.

Malik had said that the no show of Pakistani players at this week's IPL auction indicated India's non-seriousness about restoring the peace process between both countries.

"Government has nothing to do with IPL, selection of players, and then rating of players, and various exercises which are connected with that," Krishna said.

"I think Pakistan will have to draw a line between where Government of India is connected and where Government of India becomes an acting actor," he added.

Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister MS Gill also said that neither his ministry nor the government had influenced the selection process.

At the IPL auction held in Mumbai on January 19, no franchise bid for the 11 Pakistani players.

Team owners said they were apprehensive about the players' availability for the tournament.

It may be recalled that Pakistan are the current Twenty 20 World Champions. (ANI)