Kenyan international Mishra plays as 'uncapped' Indian

Jaipur, April 17 (IANS) A Kenyan Indian becomes an Indian Kenyan in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Tanmay Mishra, who turned out for Kenya in the 2011 World Cup, is an Indian with "dual citizenship" for Deccan Chargers.

The Mumbai-born Mishra was Tuesday included in the Deccan Chargers eleven against the Rajasthan Royals as a "domestic" player.

He is the fifth "overseas" player in the eleven while the rule stipulates that only four can play in a match. The other four foreigners are skipper Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, South Africans Dale Steyn and Jean Paul Duminy, and Australian Daniel Christian.

The IPL, however, said that Mishra might have played for Kenya but since he was born in Mumbai, that makes him eligible to play in the IPL as an Indian.

Mishra was signed by Deccan Chargers as an uncapped Indian despite having played 38 ODIs for Kenya. He signed a contract with Deccan Chargers Feb 18 and two days later had played an ODI for Kenya.

"The IPL takes the same stance as the ICC (International Cricket Council) and recognises a player such as this as one who could play for India if he so wishes due to his status being born in India, thus recognised as a domestic player.

"It is the same as Tom Cooper who plays for the Netherlands but represents the Red Backs in Australia as a local player. Cooper qualified to play for the Netherlands as his mother was born in Dutch New Guinea," an IPL spokesperson said in a statement.

An aggressive middle-order batsman, Mishra made his ODI debut for Kenya in 2006 against Zimbabwe. He, however, enrolled himself in an Indian university next year and thus could not play for Kenya for three years.

He returned to the Kenyan side in 2010 and played his last ODI against Ireland at Mombasa Feb 20. He was also part of the Twenty20 squad against Ireland in Dubai recently.

Mishra was included by Deccan Chargers ahead of IPL 5 as an "Indian" in view of his "dual citizenship".

People of Indian origin, who acquired overseas citizenship, could apply for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card or the People of Indian Origin (PIO) card. Last year, the two cards have been merged to facilitate visa-free travel to India, rights of residency and participation in business and educational activities in the country.

Even though India does not allow dual citizenship, the current country of citizenship must allow some form of dual citizenship.

Mishra has averaged 31.58 in 38 ODIs for Kenya with 72 in the last World Cup against Australia in Bangalore as his best score.