Warne denies bust-up with Ponting

Shane Warne denied having a heated argument with Ricky Ponting over the Australian cricketers' participation in the IPL.

"There was no heated disagreement between me andRicky," said Warne, who led the Jaipur-based Rajasthan Royals to a fairytale triumph in the first edition of the cash-awash league.

"We're mates, we get along fine. There were a lot of people asking (Australian Cricketers Association chief executive) Paul Marsh for clarity on some issues. I think that's healthy. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion," Warne was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Telegraph'.

A report in 'The Australian', however, claimed that the cricketers were "at each other's throats" during a security briefing in Sydney yesterday.

According to the daily, freelance former players like Warne, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist are all for playing in the IPL, while majority of the Cricket Australia-contracted players are little cagey about it.

"It is understood the past players, including Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist clashed with Australia's captain Ricky Ponting during the meeting," the report claimed, quoting sources. .

ACA chief executive Paul Marsh, however, was confident that the players would show solidarity till the issue is resolved.

"That's something we are still working through, it's the way we have operated in the past and I guess we have a couple of weeks to work through that," Marsh said.

Warne, meanwhile, said that with the Indian government throwing its weight behind IPL's security contractor Nicholls Steyn, there should not be worry for the players.

"I think the development overnight is that the Indian Government is going to get behind Nicholls Steyn, the IPL security people, (and) ramp up security for the players," he said.

"That will give the players comfort, and that was the main aim of the players' association. I think it's going to work pretty well," said Warne.

Players need IPL to develop - Swann

Graeme Swann missed out an IPL deal but it means he can spend more time with his new wife © PA Photos

Graeme Swann has followed Paul Collingwood's lead by expressing disappointment that England players don't get more exposure to Twenty20 through the IPL.

The IPL clashes with England's tour of Bangladesh which means leading players wouldn't be available for a chunk of the event and that makes them unattractive to franchises. Swann was put forward for the recent auction ahead of the third season of the IPL, but didn't come away with a deal as Eoin Morgan was the only Englishman to get snapped up.

Swann understands why owners don't want to throw money at players they won't see much of, but hopes that there will be a chance in future years of England players seeing more Twenty20 action.

"It is disappointing of course but you fully understand it when you're only available for a three-week window," he told reporters in Dubai. "I certainly wouldn't throw any money at an English player if you can only have them for three or four games.

"That's a shame for us as players because I think that if we are going to develop then in an ideal world we would be made available for a lot more of the IPL, but that isn't for me to decide. It would be nice if we had a chance to play a bit more Twenty20 cricket and in the next few years I'm sure that will be the case."

With many of England's players not involved with the IPL the two Twenty20 matches against Pakistan are important for the team as they plan for the World Twenty20 in West Indies from the end of April

"As it is we can't complain about that; we just need to use the games we've got to make sure we're good enough to compete and hopefully win in the West Indies," Swann said.

Along with Morgan, who was signed by Bangalore Royal Challengers following his impressive limited-overs performances for England, Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen will head to the IPL when the Test series against Bangladesh ends in late March.

Swann was seen as a possible contender for a deal this year, despite his limited availability, after an outstanding 12 months coupled with his marketable character. However, despite missing out on a nice pay day Swann sees a positive from the outcome.

"I was over the moon when I heard (there had been no offers)," he joked. "I've only been married two weeks and she said she'd leave me if I couldn't go home after this tour."

Pak cricketers are welcome in India

The IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said that Pakistani players have always been welcomed in India.

He also added that it is foolish to think there is some sort of conspiracy to keep them out of the IPL season three.

"We have always welcomed Pakistani cricketers in India and they will be part of IPL season four," Modi told the Geo news channel.

Modi said that Pakistani cricketers would play in IPL season four and would hopefully be part of the two new franchises that would be included in the next IPL season.

"But I think the Pakistan Cricket Board also needs to adopt a positive mindset towards the IPL, like always we have always welcomed Pakistani cricketers to India," he said.

Modi said it was a misconception that the Indian cricket board was behind the decision of franchises not to bid for Pakistani cricketers in the players auction for season three.

"We can't force the franchises to bid for players from any country in the players auction. It is their team and they are free to decide which players they want. How can anyone blame the BCCI for this?" Modi added.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Butt recently told a Senate standing committee on sports hearing that Modi had told the franchises not to bid for Pakistani players as there were lot of security issues linked to them playing in India.

Pakistan has also described the IPL snub to its players as a deliberate attempt to humiliate them after including them in the players auction list. .

Pacer Sohail Tanvir who was the top performer for Rajasthan Royals, the winners of the first IPL season, also said he could not see any logic behind franchise ignoring Pakistani players at the auction.

"Forget about me I am not in the top category of players but tell how can any franchise not bid for experienced T20 specialist performers like Shahid Afridi or Umar Gul or for an exciting young talent like Umar Akmal at the players' auction. Obviously there was something fishy about the whole thing," Tanvir told PTI.

He admitted that not being able to play in the IPL season three was a big disappointment for him.

"I was the best bowler of the first tournament and I want another opportunity to prove to everyone that my performance was not a fluke. I am eager to play in the IPL once again whenever possible," Tanvir added.

Modi also said in his interview that until now after the players auction he had not spoken to the PCB on the IPL issue.

"I have had no discussions on the IPL with the PCB," he said.