PHOTO COURTESY: IPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) may well be into nine seasons but it's still lacking in one thing -- Pakistani players.
After the first season, the league has not seen participation of any Pakistani player, a fact that has hit former Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar hard.
Shoaib took to Twitter on Friday to express disappointment that no Pakistani is allowed to showcase their talent in the ongoing IPL.
The 40-year-old shared an iconic picture of him carrying Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan after a match-winning performance against Delhi Daredevils for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the inaugural 2008 edition of IPL.
"Sad to see Pakistani players are not able to showcase their talent," the caption read.
Arthur will either reshape Pakistan cricket or leave within 8 months: Shoaib
The right-arm pacer added that he 'really enjoyed' his time in the IPL.
Really enjoyed my time in Ipl and in Kolkata Sad to see Pak players are not able2 showcase their talent
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) May 13, 2016
1day.. pic.twitter.com/ykOVSYMcxN
Shoaib, in a spell of three match-winning overs, bagged four important wickets of Virender Sehwag (0), Gautam Gambhir (10), AB de Villiers (7) and Manoj Tiwari (9) — first three caught and the last one dismissed LBW.
The first edition of the IPL included many other Pakistanis such as Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Younus Khan, Umar Gul, Muhammad Asif, Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt.
Shoaib Akhtar turns tables on Sehwag after 'mauka' taunt
However, the fluctuating relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals and security concerns has shut Pakistani players out of the tournament since 2008.
Here is Shoaib's memorable four-wicket haul for KKR
[poll id="1477"]
Here is what the fans had to say in reply to Shoaib's tweet:
still remember the eden garden's crowd roaring "Shoaib Shoaib" when you got Sehwag-Gambhir-AB out and won KKR the match! 😍
— 🏏 (@MEEEERUU) May 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/hanan5248/status/730986446564122624
https://twitter.com/m_tahir21/status/730985537901760515
https://twitter.com/sourav_malo/status/731005393804087296
https://twitter.com/dilawar_jhabail/status/730986765327175680
talk to BCCI. I hope they will except your reqst as we Indian also want few pak players like Sarfaraz Umar Afridi.
— aninda sarkar (@anindasarkar) May 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/ArainSpeaks/status/731014385389473792
https://twitter.com/junaid_sakender/status/731011675860570112
so true we miss pakistani players in the @VIVOIPL_T20 specially @SAfridiOfficial
— Ahmer Malik (@thegamemalik) May 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/Haryanwiboy/status/731001052498010112
tusi great ho paji Rawalpindi Express
— Sadaqat Anjum (@786ghanool) May 13, 2016
If they are involved IPL would have been at another level for sure ✊
— Vijay Desai (@Im_VD04) May 13, 2016
ya Shoaib bhai Mai bhi Aamir ko miss Kr rha Hu ipl Mai I hope ke wo hota...😊
— AaMiR... kHaN... (@MdAmd29135) May 13, 2016
COMMENTS (26)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ