 As if the controversy over the issue surrounding what Shahid Afridi had
said about the Indian media and the people of the country was not enough, he has
now said that the Indian Premier League should allow the Pakistani cricketers
back into the fold. The Pakistani captain said that by doing so, there will be
a definite change in the relationship between the two countries for the better.
Pakistani cricketers were a part of the IPL in its first edition of the tournament
but the Pakistani government did not give a green signal to the players on security
grounds. In the third edition of the tournament, the Pakistani cricketers were
a part of the auction but not one of the players was selected giving rise to
a lot of stink in the Pakistani media and lot of animosity amongst the players.
Afridi said that it was high time that the Pakistani cricketers were allowed
a place back in the Indian Premier League after missing out in three editions
in a row. Afridi also added that he personally did not want to play in the IPL
but he was speaking on behalf of the many youngsters who would get a lot of
exposure to the international cricket by being a part of the tournament.
It will be interesting to see whether this idea does fructify, especially in
the light of the Indian Prime Minister having invited the Pakistani counterpart
for the semi-final game between India and Pakistan in the recently concluded
World Cup. However, there cannot be too much doubt that the security
of these cricketers will be a bigger issue and that could be one of the reasons
why the Pakistani cricketers are not being invited for the IPL.
According to the Pakistani captain, by playing in the IPL, the tensions between
the two countries will sooth while the media hype each time there was an India-Pakistan
game will also lessen to a great deal.
Before the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, India and Pakistan had begun to play a lot
of cricket against each other in bilateral series. However, after the attacks,
followed by the Sri Lankan side being attacked as well, there has been no cricket
between the countries, either in India or in Pakistan.
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