Imran Khan lashes out at Indian Cricket Board for not allowing Pakistanis to participate in Indian T20 League

Former Pakistan skipper, Imran Khan opined that the Pakistan cricketers should not worry as the Indians are not allowing them to participate in the Indian T20 League (ITL). Although Pakistani players participated in the first edition in 2008, the Mumbai terror attacks later that year worsened political relations between the two countries. In the end, Pakistani players were prohibited from competing in the famous T20 league in India.

“I find it strange that the Indian cricket board would take it out on the Pakistan cricket players (by not allowing them to feature in the IPL) and it just reeks of arrogance. If India doesn’t allow Pakistan players (to play ITL) so be it. Pakistan should not worry about it,” Imran was quoted as saying on Times Radio.

The former Prime Minister of Pakistan went on to say that the Indian Cricket Board has become ‘arrogant’ now because of its ability to generate a “lot of funds”.

There is a lot of arrogance in the way India now behaves in the cricketing world: Imran Khan 

“It is unfortunate, the relationship between Pakistan and India. There is a lot of arrogance in the way India now behaves in the cricketing world as a superpower. Because of their ability to generate a lot of funds, a lot more than any other country, I think they almost dictate now as a sort of the arrogance of a superpower of who they should play and who they shouldn’t,” said Imran.

In the Indian T20 League 2023 opener, the defending champions Gujarat locked horns against four-time champion the Chennai franchise at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Friday, March 31. The hosts won the match by 5 wickets and Rashid Khan was awarded the Man of the Match award for his brilliant all-round performance.

In the second innings, both teams used their impact players. Before the start of the innings, Chennai brought in seamer Tushar Deshpande in place of Ambati Rayudu, and, on the other side, after the fall of Wridhiman Saha’s wicket, left-hand batter Sai Sudarshan came in place of injured Kane Williamson.