It’s been 17 years that no Pakistani players have been a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL). As many as 12 stars from the cross-border country were signed in the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008, but after the terrorists attacks in Mumbai and the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to ban the Pakistani players from the world’s richest franchise league.
Since then, there have been several instances of Pakistan players expressing their interest in playing in the IPL as the cricketers of both countries share a cordial relation among them. However, considering the political indifferences between the two countries, Pakistan players are not allowed in the IPL. In fact, Pakistan and India haven’t played any bilateral series since 2012.
In a recent interview at The Ranveer Show, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla was asked about whether the world will see the Pakistani players in the IPL ever again? One of the senior BCCI administrators, Rajeev Shukla cleverly put the ball in the franchises’ court.
“Pakistani commentators and umpires, we (BCCI) have involved them in Indian Premier League. About the players, it all depends on the franchises,” Rajeev Shukla said. “They (franchises) do not pick the Pakistan players and we also have not put them (in the auction list),” he added.
Asked whether the franchises ever spoke about players Pakistani to be involved in the IPL, Rajeev Shukla admitted things are tough at this moment. “There are a few franchises who do talk about Pakistani players in IPL but by large, things look tough at the moment,” he said.
Despite the ban on the Pakistan players from IPL 2009, former Pakistan cricketers were involved in the IPL. Legendary Wasim Akram was appointed as the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, while another ex-Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja did commentary duties till IPL 2014.
Rajeev Shukla on IND vs PAK bilateral series
The BCCI vice-president also threw a light on the future of the India vs Pakistan bilateral series. “Right now we don’t have the permission from the government. It will happen sometime in the future. We still don’t have the permission to conduct a bilateral series at a neutral venue.
“The idea is to play on each other’s soil. Government’s consent and security clearance are the two most important factors for a India vs Pakistan bilateral series to happen. The one incident on the Sri Lankan players disturbed the whole thing,” he added.
