When the prices of star cricketers from home and abroad skyrocketed in the IPL auction, many of the cricket lovers said regretfully, if Pakistani cricketers had the opportunity to play in the IPL, how much would their prices have gone up?
A number of Pakistani star cricketers played in the first season of IPL. Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir also performed brilliantly for various franchises. Sohail Tanveer played well for reigning champions Rajasthan Royals.
But after the Mumbai attacks in 2008, Pakistani cricketers did not get a chance to play in the IPL. The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has banned Pakistani cricketers from the IPL. Since then, all the great cricketers from the neighboring countries have been banned from the IPL for the last 15 years.
Despite the ban, Pakistani pacer Hasan Ali wants to play in India’s multi-million dollar franchise tournament.
Most of the cricketers in the world look towards the IPL. Pakistani cricketers are no exception. But even if they want, there is no way. Hasan Ali said, “All cricketers want to play IPL.” I am not out of it either. I will definitely play IPL if I get a chance. IPL is now one of the biggest and best leagues in the world. I will definitely want to play in the IPL if I get a chance in the future.
But how to play? Like other Pakistani cricketers, he thinks the same. Hasan hopes that India-Pakistan political conflict cannot continue for years. One day everything will be fine. The doors of IPL will also open again for Pakistani cricketers. The Pakistani pacer hopes that the problems of the two countries will be resolved within his cricket career. He wants to wait for good day.
After the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, India-Pakistan political relations deteriorated. Since then, the bilateral cricket relationship between the two countries has been destroyed. India and Pakistan do not face each other without an ICC tournament. The door of IPL has been closed for Pakistani cricketers since then. The Indian Cricket Board does not send the Indian team to play in Pakistan either.
