Lahore, Mar. 23 : Pakistani cricket players are hoping that they would now be allowed to participate in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) after the Board of Cricket Control in India's (BCCI) decision to shift the event out from India.

"Players are now hopeful to participate in the lucrative tournament. As they were barred to tour India, but now the concern venue has been shifted out," The Nation quoted sources privy to some players, as saying.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that it would seek the government's approval before allowing the players to participate in the Twenty-20 league.

"Since the tournament now has been shifted out of India, if IPL request us to release the players, we will seek government approval first," a PCB official said.

The Pakistan Government refused to grant permission to Umar Gul, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal and Sohail Tanvir to participate in the second season of the IPL following escalation of tension with India in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Later, the IPL had also terminated its contract with five Pak cricketers Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt. (ANI)