Pakistani players we’d love to see play in the IPL

Pakistani cricket players took part in the first auction of the Indian Premier League in 2008, but the Mumbai 26/11 carnage the same year changed everything.

Ties between the two nuclear-armed rivals soured and a decision was taken to not allow Pakistani cricketers to play in the tournament, till such time political relations between the two neighbours improved. Now, that we know is almost an impossibility in the current scenario.

A lot has happened since then, diplomatically, and India and Pakistan have played many matches in the country. Still, the non-participation clause for them in the IPL stands.

IPL is regarded as a celebration of cricket, where players from different teams and countries converge in India to enthral cricket fans of a nation that eats, breathes and sleeps cricket.

We are in the ninth season of the league and we sure as hell are missing out on some brilliant Pakistani cricketers and the class they could’ve added to the game, were they participating.

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In 2010, Shah Rukh Khan, the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), said he wanted a few Pakistani players to play, but could not bid for them because of political pressure, especially from Shiv Sena.

But if, our political leaders would allow the IPL to remain true to its meaning, a pure game of cricket, devoid of any politics, we take great pleasure in listing for you all the Pakistani players that would’ve added the x-factor to this season.

(Images: Indiatimes, Reuters)