Cricket board chief Ejaz Butt is optimistic that the Pakistani players will feature in next year's Indian Premier League.

"I'm pretty confident that the Pakistani players will be able to play in IPL next year," the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman told Geo News.

He, however, made it clear that PCB would have to seek government clearance before allowing the players to sign up with IPL franchises.

Pakistani players were unable to take part in this year's IPL in South Africa after the Foreign Ministry had advised the PCB not to send the players to India, original venue of the league, because of tensions between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks.

The Pakistan Foreign Ministry issued its advice before the IPL was moved from India to South Africa for security reasons.

Meanwhile, commenting on the sacking of Saleem Altaf as the Chief Operating Officer of the board, Butt claimed he had no personal differences with the former player.

"I had no differences with Saleem Altaf. It is nothing personal. I followed a decision of the Governing council which wanted the Chief Operating Officer changed," he said.

Butt said that a new COO would be appointed soon after the approval of the governing council.