Picture Credit: X/IPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has established itself as the biggest franchise T20 league in the world, with the presence of top players from India and all over the world. But, the absence of Pakistan players in the IPL is one of the most talked about things ever since the BCCI took the decision to exclude them from the league way back in 2009 due to political reasons.
It is important to note that during the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008, the players from Pakistan had elevated the league by leaps and bounds with their presence. Sohail Tanvir and Kamran Akmal were a part of the IPL 2008 winning team of Rajasthan Royals, while the likes of Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, and others, also represented a few other franchises in the tournament.
In this article, we look at three reasons why Pakistan players should be a part of the IPL once again:
Add to the competitiveness of the IPL
Pakistan is known to produce some of the best fast bowlers in the world, including the likes of Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Amir, which has proven to be one of the most scarce commodities in the IPL throughout its history. That’s why, the involvement of the Pakistan players, especially in the fast bowling department, could add to its competitiveness in the Indian franchise T20 league, helping the teams to improve their quality at the same time.