Akram requests BCCI to allow Pakistani players in IPL

[1]

Former Pakistan captain and pace legend Wasim Akram has requested the Indian cricket board (BCCI) to allow Pakistani players to participate in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

Akram said Pakistani players would only help add color to the Twenty20 tournament.

“I have always been a great believer that sports and politics should be kept apart and if our players take part in the IPL it will only raise the bar of the event,” said Akram, who was the bowling consultant of current IP champions Kolkata Knight Riders.

Pakistani cricketers have not been allowed to take part in the lucrative IPL after the first edition due to varied reasons but mainly because of the diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Although Pakistani umpires, commentators and coaches will feature in the ongoing sixth edition of the IPL but no cricketer has been invited for the event.

Akram felt since Pakistani bowlers are better than India’s, it will only benefit the IPL. Although Pakistan team toured India for a short ODI series in December last year but the BCCI still didn’t clear the way for the players from the beighbouring country to participate in the IPL.

Last year the BCCI, however, for the first time allowed a Pakistani team to take part in the Champions League Twenty20 held in South Africa.