Pakistani cricket team in action© AFP
Former captain of Pakistan Rashid Latif said that men in green “Miss playing in IPL” and that this is a major reason why the nation has failed to behave recently. After the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008, which saw 12 Pakistani players play in the League, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to ban Pakistani players from the richest franchise in the world after Mumbai terrorist attacks later in the year. “Obviously, we also miss it (playing in IPL), if we had played, it increased interest and business. A broadcaster would certainly show it here if our players played,” Latif in Ians.
Sohail Tanvir, Kamran Akmal and Younis Khan, all representing the Royals of Rajasthan remain the only three players in Pakistan to win the IPL trophy in 2008.
Latif also developed by showing the constant rise of cricket in countries like New Zealand, South Africa, the Antilles and Afghanistan which all benefited from playing in the first T20 league.
“You are looking at the other countries in New Zealand, Antilles and South Africa, the players in these countries have come to IPL and have played against the best players in the world. You have Pat Cummins, Jofra Archer and Kagiso Rabada, the Best Quakers in the world in you, competition is raised, so you learn a lot with high mouth installations.”
“When you talk about football, you think of Manchester United and Real Madrid, because they have the best facilities and players do not want to leave such places. So, when you play in IPL, the best league in the world, then when you go to other countries to play, you take it lightly,” said the former counter carrier.
“The ascent of Afghanistan was also via IPL, after Rashid Khan brought Noor Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazhalaq Farooqi – they also caused an instant impact at the national level,” added Latif.
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