Future of Pakistani Players in IPL Hinges on Franchise Decisions, Says BCCI Official
A senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has addressed the future of Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League (IPL), revealing that the decision largely depends on the franchises themselves.
For the past 17 years, Pakistani players have been absent from the IPL, with the last participation occurring during the inaugural season in 2008 when 12 Pakistani cricketers were part of the tournament. However, following the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, the Indian cricket board decided to bar Pakistani players from the IPL. The political tensions between India and Pakistan further exacerbated the situation, with no bilateral series played between the two countries since 2012.
In response to the question of whether Pakistani players will ever play in the IPL again, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla recently stated in a podcast that the decision lies with the franchises. While Pakistani commentators and umpires have been included in the IPL, Shukla emphasized that it is the franchises that choose players, and they have not selected Pakistani players thus far. He also added that the BCCI does not include Pakistani players in the auction list.
When asked whether any franchises had discussed the possibility of including Pakistani players, Shukla mentioned that some franchises had shown interest, but overall, the inclusion of Pakistani players appears unlikely given the current circumstances.
Shukla also spoke on the future of bilateral series between India and Pakistan, stating that the government has not granted permission for such series, including those at neutral venues. He emphasized that the goal is for both countries to play in each other’s territories, but this can only happen with government authorization and security clearance. He further mentioned that the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team had significantly impacted the possibility of resuming bilateral cricket series.
