Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not allowing Pakistani cricketers to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Imran expressed his disappointment in India’s behavior, stating that their arrogance as a superpower is evident in their actions. Despite this, Imran believes that Pakistan should not be overly concerned as they have a strong T20 league and a talented group of young players.
Due to the strained relationship between the two countries, Pakistani cricketers have not been part of the IPL since its inaugural edition in 2008. Imran Khan spoke out against the BCCI’s decision in an interview with Times Radio on Friday, stating, “I find it strange that the Indian cricket board should take it out on the Pakistan cricket players [by not allowing them to feature in the IPL] and it just reeks of arrogance.”
Imran Khan also pointed out that Pakistan has its own high-quality super league, which foreign players are eager to participate in. He suggested that Pakistan should not worry about being excluded from the IPL as they have an excellent crop of young cricketers coming up.
India and Pakistan have not played each other on home soil since 2012 and only face off in multinational tournaments on neutral grounds. Despite being one of the most intense rivalries in sports, political tensions have prevented the two nations from playing each other more often.
It’s worth noting that the 8th season of the Pakistan Super League recently concluded, with the Lahore Qalandars winning back-to-back titles under the leadership of Shaheen Afridi. This shows that Pakistan’s T20 league has the potential to attract foreign talent and provide a platform for local players to showcase their skills.
Overall, Imran Khan’s criticism of the BCCI’s decision to exclude Pakistani cricketers from the IPL highlights the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan in the realm of sports. However, his optimistic view of Pakistan’s own T20 league and young talent suggests that the country can thrive on its own without relying on the IPL.
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