Pakistani Players in IPL: PCB’s New Managing Director Wasim Khan Wants Pak Cricketers to Play in Indian Premier League

Pakistan Cricket Board’s new Managing Director Wasim Khan on Saturday highlighted many issues. Among the many things, Khan also went onto to say that he would want Pakistani players to feel welcomes in the India Premier League. In fact, the new PCB managing director who also served as Leicestershire's chief executive, is more than willing to improve the relations between the two boards. He also went on to state in the two cricket-frenzy nations go beyond the game and hence requires a change in thinking. Shahid Afridi is Not Interested in Joining IPL: Pakistani All-rounder TROLLED MERCILESSLY for His Comment.

"I want to sit down with my counterpart at the BCCI and see if I can improve that relationship," Wasim was quoted by icc-cricket.com. "But the complications go far beyond cricket and will require changes in thinking. I'd like to see Pakistan players welcomed into the IPL, though," the 47-year-old added. "That would be a big step,” said Wasim Khan.

Pakistani players feature only in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. But owing o the political tensions between the two countries, the players never got featured in the IPL till date. The Pakistani players that featured in IPL 2008 are - Shoaib Akhtar (Kolkata Knight Riders), Shoaib Malik (Delhi Daredevils), Shahid Afridi (Deccan Chargers), Younis Khan (Rajasthan Royals), Mohammad Asif (Delhi Daredevils), Kamran Akmal (Rajasthan Royals), Umar Gul (Kolkata Knight Riders), Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan Royals), Mohammad Hafeez (Kolkata Knight Riders), Salman Butt (Kolkata Knight Riders), Misbah-ul-Haq (Royal Challengers Bangalore).

A few months ago, Shahid Afridi had said that he was not interested in joining the IPL. “Even if they call me, I won't go to the IPL. My PSL is the biggest and there will be a time that it leaves the IPL behind. I am enjoying the PSL, I don't have any need for the IPL. I'm not interested in it and never was" #Cricket,” Afridi had said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 22, 2018 07:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).