So did you think that post IPL 2008, or the first, inaugural season of the IPL, no Pakistanis have been a part of this highly prestigious tournament?
Well, you're wrong in case you have been thinking so.
Accordingly, let us look at some of the impeccable Pakistanis who have rendered their invaluable contribution to the IPL and made it that much more of a success in so many myriad ways.
Wasim Akram
By far one of the best genuine fast bowlers that the game of cricket has ever seen, Wasim Akram continues to offer his services as the bowling coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Under his guidance, bowlers like Lakshmipathy Balaji and James Pattinson as well as all rounders like Shakib Al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan have been able to hone their bowling skills tremendously. Of course, when you have a team which also boasts of other bowling stalwarts like Brett Lee and Jacques Kallis, you clearly have a formidable side at hand that is showcasing a level of performance in Season 5 which was not seen in previous seasons of the IPL.
On the whole, it is quite clear that Wasim Akram's contribution to the team has been truly exemplary. After all, he comes to the fore with nearly 20 years of experience in the international cricketing arena, having debuted in 1984 in both Tests and ODIs, and then retiring from Tests and ODIs in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
He can therefore clearly advise and guide the team on so many different facets of the game, beyond just bowling alone. After all, in his time, Akram was also known as one of the most powerful strikers of the ball, especially in crunch situations where big hitting was the need of the hour.
Azhar Mahmood
This is a slightly tricky one, when we consider the fact that Mahmood now has a British passport and is a Britisher for all official purposes.
But clearly that does not take away his "Pakistani-ness", especially when we look back at the spectacular contribution that he has made over these years to his (former) national side.
With regard to the IPL, it is so visibly apparent that Mahmood has made a huge difference as far as the Kings XI Punjab team is concerned. Prior to his arrival on the scene, Kings XI Punjab clearly seemed to be lacking a genuine all rounder who could play a sheet anchor's role with both the bat and the ball.
In Mahmood, the team has easily found the magician with the magic wand that it had been waiting for all along. Also, with his arrival, Preity can flash her one-in-a-billion, dimpled smile, much more frequently now!
Rameez Raja
One of the most impeccable commentators of the IPL, Rameez Raja packs an absolute punch when it comes to fulfilling all his media commitments.
For instance, in spite of the slight Punjabi twang in his speech, he is legible and clear with every word that he utters.
Also, he has a truly formidable personality which is clearly visible to one and all, when he is physically present in person on the field. Instances would include during the toss, interviews between matches as well as the post match presentation.
On the whole, clearly he is in a league of his own when it comes to delivering faultless commentary and/or anchoring, whenever his duties are sought during any of the IPL matches.
Asad Rauf
Asad Rauf may never have had a go at playing for his country at an International level but that has not made an iota of difference as far as his umpiring skills at the IPL are concerned.
In any case, Rauf is enlisted on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, which by itself is a clear indication of the high standards of umpiring which Rauf brings with him. Moreover, he has had extensive experience as an umpire, having started officiating as an umpire in ODIs for more than a decade now, starting February 2000, in addition to the more relevant five years of experience that he has had as an umpire in international T-20 matches.
Having looked at the formidable contribution of these 4 Pakistani stalwarts of the game, to the IPL, one can't help but wonder as to why the other Pakistani cricket team members - both past and present, can't be given a chance to play in the IPL.
Today we see players from all parts of the cricketing world, be it Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka or South Africa, making their presence felt in the IPL in a really big way. In such a scenario, the absence of Pakistani stalwarts of the game, be it Shahid Afridi or Shoaib Akhtar, is not just a monetary loss to those individuals, it is an even bigger loss to the entire cricketing fraternity, particularly the audience which turns up in millions in front of their televisions sets, as well as braves a multiplicity of odds, to watch IPL matches live at cricket grounds in India.
These ardent fans of the game are simply being robbed of the unbelievable opportunity they could have of seeing their favorite cricketing heroes from India, be it Sachin Tendulkar or Mahendra Singh Dhoni, rub shoulders with the likes of Shahid Afridi or Shoaib Akhtar - ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE FENCE, would you believe that?
Hope some day the selectors, the team managements, as well as the all powerful IPL Core Committee (essentially and effectively the BCCI) realize their folly and allow Pakistani players to be a part of the IPL. After all, who can forget the invaluable contribution of Sohail Tanvir in the inaugural edition of the IPL, where he took the most wickets (and therefore got the Purple Cap), proving to be one of the most valuable players of the tournament, considering his base price of a mere $100,000.
Note: The author of this post is a highly patriotic Indian who at the same time feels that long term peace and prosperity in the entire South Asian region lies in living peacefully and harmoniously between all nations, India and Pakistan included. In that spirit, he also feels that IPL certainly offers an unparalleled platform for showcasing and ensuring cordial co-existence between these two glorious nations, which should be taken advantage of to the maxim, instead of ignoring Pakistani players altogether.
 |
| Shahrukh Khan in Shoaib Akhtar's lap and arms ;-) - When will we see such "goose-bumping" scenes again? |
Well, you're wrong in case you have been thinking so.
Accordingly, let us look at some of the impeccable Pakistanis who have rendered their invaluable contribution to the IPL and made it that much more of a success in so many myriad ways.
Wasim Akram
By far one of the best genuine fast bowlers that the game of cricket has ever seen, Wasim Akram continues to offer his services as the bowling coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Under his guidance, bowlers like Lakshmipathy Balaji and James Pattinson as well as all rounders like Shakib Al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan have been able to hone their bowling skills tremendously. Of course, when you have a team which also boasts of other bowling stalwarts like Brett Lee and Jacques Kallis, you clearly have a formidable side at hand that is showcasing a level of performance in Season 5 which was not seen in previous seasons of the IPL.
 |
| A combined picture of Wasim Akram giving invaluable tips to Brett Lee and Yusuf Pathan respectively, during nets |
On the whole, it is quite clear that Wasim Akram's contribution to the team has been truly exemplary. After all, he comes to the fore with nearly 20 years of experience in the international cricketing arena, having debuted in 1984 in both Tests and ODIs, and then retiring from Tests and ODIs in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
He can therefore clearly advise and guide the team on so many different facets of the game, beyond just bowling alone. After all, in his time, Akram was also known as one of the most powerful strikers of the ball, especially in crunch situations where big hitting was the need of the hour.
Azhar Mahmood
This is a slightly tricky one, when we consider the fact that Mahmood now has a British passport and is a Britisher for all official purposes.
But clearly that does not take away his "Pakistani-ness", especially when we look back at the spectacular contribution that he has made over these years to his (former) national side.
With regard to the IPL, it is so visibly apparent that Mahmood has made a huge difference as far as the Kings XI Punjab team is concerned. Prior to his arrival on the scene, Kings XI Punjab clearly seemed to be lacking a genuine all rounder who could play a sheet anchor's role with both the bat and the ball.
 |
| Azhar Mahmood during the post match presentation of the encounter against RCB in Bangalore on 02 May 2012 where he won MoM |
In Mahmood, the team has easily found the magician with the magic wand that it had been waiting for all along. Also, with his arrival, Preity can flash her one-in-a-billion, dimpled smile, much more frequently now!
 |
| Yes, Preity, we sure love that bedazzling S-M-I-L-E of yours, which you have more reasons to flash, with Azhar Mahmood in your team now! |
Rameez Raja
One of the most impeccable commentators of the IPL, Rameez Raja packs an absolute punch when it comes to fulfilling all his media commitments.
For instance, in spite of the slight Punjabi twang in his speech, he is legible and clear with every word that he utters.
Also, he has a truly formidable personality which is clearly visible to one and all, when he is physically present in person on the field. Instances would include during the toss, interviews between matches as well as the post match presentation.
 |
| Rameez (extreme left) at the toss, during the DD-CSK encounter at Feroze Shah Kotla in Delhi |
On the whole, clearly he is in a league of his own when it comes to delivering faultless commentary and/or anchoring, whenever his duties are sought during any of the IPL matches.
Asad Rauf
Asad Rauf may never have had a go at playing for his country at an International level but that has not made an iota of difference as far as his umpiring skills at the IPL are concerned.
 |
| Asad Rauf in a playful mood during IPL 2012 |
In any case, Rauf is enlisted on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, which by itself is a clear indication of the high standards of umpiring which Rauf brings with him. Moreover, he has had extensive experience as an umpire, having started officiating as an umpire in ODIs for more than a decade now, starting February 2000, in addition to the more relevant five years of experience that he has had as an umpire in international T-20 matches.
Having looked at the formidable contribution of these 4 Pakistani stalwarts of the game, to the IPL, one can't help but wonder as to why the other Pakistani cricket team members - both past and present, can't be given a chance to play in the IPL.
Today we see players from all parts of the cricketing world, be it Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka or South Africa, making their presence felt in the IPL in a really big way. In such a scenario, the absence of Pakistani stalwarts of the game, be it Shahid Afridi or Shoaib Akhtar, is not just a monetary loss to those individuals, it is an even bigger loss to the entire cricketing fraternity, particularly the audience which turns up in millions in front of their televisions sets, as well as braves a multiplicity of odds, to watch IPL matches live at cricket grounds in India.
 |
| Shahid Afridi playing for DC, celebrating the dismissal of Misbah-ul-Haq of RCB in his trademark style, in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008. How long will we have to wait to see such magnificent scenes again? |
These ardent fans of the game are simply being robbed of the unbelievable opportunity they could have of seeing their favorite cricketing heroes from India, be it Sachin Tendulkar or Mahendra Singh Dhoni, rub shoulders with the likes of Shahid Afridi or Shoaib Akhtar - ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE FENCE, would you believe that?
Hope some day the selectors, the team managements, as well as the all powerful IPL Core Committee (essentially and effectively the BCCI) realize their folly and allow Pakistani players to be a part of the IPL. After all, who can forget the invaluable contribution of Sohail Tanvir in the inaugural edition of the IPL, where he took the most wickets (and therefore got the Purple Cap), proving to be one of the most valuable players of the tournament, considering his base price of a mere $100,000.
 |
| Sohail Tanvir with the Purple Cap that he won at the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 |
Note: The author of this post is a highly patriotic Indian who at the same time feels that long term peace and prosperity in the entire South Asian region lies in living peacefully and harmoniously between all nations, India and Pakistan included. In that spirit, he also feels that IPL certainly offers an unparalleled platform for showcasing and ensuring cordial co-existence between these two glorious nations, which should be taken advantage of to the maxim, instead of ignoring Pakistani players altogether.
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