Four Pakistan players get IPL visa clearance

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) finally took a positive turn when on Thursday the Indian Home Ministry issued visa clearances for four cricketers.

Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Misbah-ul Haq and Kamran Akmal who already have existing contracts with IPL franchises, got approvals from the ministry this morning. Abdul Razzaq, reportedly in talks with the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, is yet to receive word from the concerned authorities.

Although the visa approval is a step in the right direction for Pakistan's IPL bid, the final decision as to whether the players will actually get to participate in the league rests in the hands of the league commissioner Lalit Modi.