<p>PCB officials had a meeting with Razzaq at the board headquarters in Lahore, and after that chairman Ijaz Butt allowed the cricketer to join the Knight Riders.<br />Razzaq had informed Butt that the Knight Riders are seeking his services for the 2010 edition of the IPL.<br /><br />The all-rounder, who quit the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) earlier this year, recently met Butt to seek his permission for what is expected to be a lucrative stint for Knight Riders that is owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.<br /><br />"I have informed the board in advance as obviously the board can only give me or get me permission to go and play in the IPL," Razzaq said.<br />The all-rounder said he was keen to play in the IPL, which he described as a big happening in international cricket.<br />Razzaq returned to the Pakistan team in June during the Twenty20 World Cup in England after resigning from the unofficial Indian Cricket League. </p>.<p>Razzaq, who was banned by the PCB for his links with ICL, made his international return with the ICC World Twenty championship in England in June.<br /> He was a part of the Pakistan’s team’s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this summer but was dropped for the Champions Trophy because of lack of form and fitness.<br /> The all-rounder was delighted to receive PCB’s permission to join the IPL. “It is great news for me and I’m now looking forward to give my best for Knight Riders,” he said. <br /><br />Pakistani players featured prominently in the first IPL but couldn't play in the second edition this year as they didn't get the required clearance from the government.<br /><br />The government had advised the PCB not to send its players to India for the IPL because of security concerns but the tournament was later shifted to South Africa and by then it was too late for the Pakistani players to do anything or for the franchises to reverse their decision of suspending or terminating contracts of most Pakistani players.<br /><br />Sources said that senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq and opener Salman Butt had also started formal proceedings to get clearance from the PCB and government to accept offers from franchisees to play in the IPL which will now be held in April next year in India. </p>
<p>PCB officials had a meeting with Razzaq at the board headquarters in Lahore, and after that chairman Ijaz Butt allowed the cricketer to join the Knight Riders.<br />Razzaq had informed Butt that the Knight Riders are seeking his services for the 2010 edition of the IPL.<br /><br />The all-rounder, who quit the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) earlier this year, recently met Butt to seek his permission for what is expected to be a lucrative stint for Knight Riders that is owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.<br /><br />"I have informed the board in advance as obviously the board can only give me or get me permission to go and play in the IPL," Razzaq said.<br />The all-rounder said he was keen to play in the IPL, which he described as a big happening in international cricket.<br />Razzaq returned to the Pakistan team in June during the Twenty20 World Cup in England after resigning from the unofficial Indian Cricket League. </p>.<p>Razzaq, who was banned by the PCB for his links with ICL, made his international return with the ICC World Twenty championship in England in June.<br /> He was a part of the Pakistan’s team’s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this summer but was dropped for the Champions Trophy because of lack of form and fitness.<br /> The all-rounder was delighted to receive PCB’s permission to join the IPL. “It is great news for me and I’m now looking forward to give my best for Knight Riders,” he said. <br /><br />Pakistani players featured prominently in the first IPL but couldn't play in the second edition this year as they didn't get the required clearance from the government.<br /><br />The government had advised the PCB not to send its players to India for the IPL because of security concerns but the tournament was later shifted to South Africa and by then it was too late for the Pakistani players to do anything or for the franchises to reverse their decision of suspending or terminating contracts of most Pakistani players.<br /><br />Sources said that senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq and opener Salman Butt had also started formal proceedings to get clearance from the PCB and government to accept offers from franchisees to play in the IPL which will now be held in April next year in India. </p>
