New Delhi, Nov. 16: The Indian Premier League organisers have re-opened the doors for Pakistan players to participate in the big-bucks Twenty20 tournament 2010 onwards, provided they get clearance from both governments and a no-objection certificate from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The players will also need to have their visas in order by Friday, three days before the player trading season for 2010 starts.

Of the 11 Pakistan players that had been recruited by franchises before the inaugural IPL, only four retained their contracts —Kamran Akmal and Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan), Misbah-ul Haq (Bangalore) and Umar Gul (Kolkata) — by the start of second season in South Africa. Their participation had been suspended after relations between subcontinental neighbours soured following the Mumbai terror strike last year.

IPL-3: Two new teams and pink balls

The organisers have, meanwhile cleared the deck for a major facelift in its third edition next year, incorporating two new teams, four fielding substitutes, pink balls in practice matches and abolishing the icon player status as some of its innovations.

The teams will also come under the supervision of the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit and BCCI’s own anti-doping policy from next season onwards and players who skip the tournament despite not having any national assignment are likely to have their contracts terminated, organisers of the event said in a statement following a three-day meeting in Bangkok.

The T20 league will conduct its third auction on January 19 in Mumbai for which the eight franchises will be allowed to spend up to $750,000.