The
team
owners
of
the
India
Premier
League
(IPL)
have
so
far
stood
together
on
the
issue
of
not
bidding
for
any
Pakistani
players
in
the
third
edition
of
the
event.
They
had
come
out
in
the
media
denying
any
foul
play.
But
now
a
prominent
voice
among
them
has
stood
up
and
voiced
his
opposition
to
the
issue.
It
is
none
other
than
the
Baadshah
of
Bollywood,
Shahrukh
Khan
who
owns
the
Kolkata
Knight
Riders.
In
an
interview
to
a
leading
news
channel
Shahrukh
Khan
said
"They
are
the
champions,
they
are
wonderful
but
somewhere
down
the
line
there
is
an
issue
and
we
can't
deny
it.
We
are
known
to
invite
everyone.
We
should
have.
If
there
were
any
issues,
they
should
have
been
put
on
board
earlier.
Everything
can
happen
respectfully,"
It
may
be
recalled
that
Shahrukh
Khan
who
had
taken
active
part
in
the
bidding
of
the
players
in
the
first
season
had
shown
keen
interest
in
Pakistani
players.
He
had
roped
in
Umar
Gul
and
maverick
Pakistani
pacer
Shoaib
Akhtar
in
the
first
season.
Shahrukh's
statement
is
bound
to
add
to
the
controversy
especially
after
fellow
Bollywood
celebrities
Preity
Zinta
and
Shilpa
Shetty
having
gone
out
in
full
support
of
the
fairness
of
the
bidding
process.
In
a
press
conferecne
Preity
Zinta
who
co-owns
Kings
XI
Punjab
had
said
that
"A
lot
of
Australian
players
were
not
taken
in
the
auction
but
zeroed
in
on
that
particular
thing.
So
the
idea
of
sensationalising
the
country's
conscience
is
handlelled
by
the
media.
It
is
very,
very
important
for
the
media
to
react
sensibly,"
Echoing
her
Shilpa
Shetty
whop
owns
Rajasthan
Royals
had
said
that
"Are
we
in
a
situation
to
provide
security
with
certain
political
parties
and
lunatic
fringes
constantly
threatening?
I
don't
think
that
is
something
that
we
wanted
to
take
the
onus
for.
And
we
were
the
losers,"
Story first published: Monday, January 25, 2010, 11:11 [IST]