The first season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) provided spectators with a whole new experience, as they saw players from archrivals India and Pakistan compete together in the same team, in the shortest version of the game. Saurav Ganguly teamed up with Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar for Kolkata Knight Riders, while Rahul Dravid and Misbah Ul Haq formed a formidable partnership for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Five Pakistani-origin cricketers continued to play in the IPL despite the ban. Unfortunately, political ties between these two nations slid into a tailspin and were on the verge of collapsing when the BCCI decided to permanently ban Pakistani players from participating in the IPL. This article will discuss five Pakistani cricketers who continued to play in the IPL despite the ban.
1. Azhar Mahmood
An all-rounder who represented Pakistan till 2007, he made his IPL debut in 2012 after being acquired by Kings XI Punjab. Born in Rawalpindi, he relocated to England after the conclusion of his football career. As a result of his sustained participation in county cricket, he quickly acquired British citizenship.
Following that, he played for Kings XI Punjab and then Kolkata Knight Riders for a short while. Along with Adam Gilchrist, he enjoyed an outstanding season with KXIP.
2. Usman Khawaja
His time in the Indian Premier League was brief, lasting just one season in 2016-17, when he wore the Rising Pune Super Giants tee. He was born in Islamabad but went to Australia prior to beginning his cricket career, where the youngster earned his much-coveted debut.
3. Owais Shah
Owais Shah was born in Karachi and began his cricket career with Wycombe House. His early accolades included the Ken Barrington National Cup, which helped him make a significant impression on selectors. He did not have a spectacular part in the sparkling fray, but his modest exploits included a respectable 58 and a scorching 76 that helped him collect 506 runs in just seven games. In 2013, he played his last season in the domestic fiesta.
4. Imran Tahir
The 41-year-old South African leggie was born in Lahore and grew up in Pakistan, where he learned his skill. He was also employed as a retail salesperson at the Place shopping mall in Lahore. His fortunes changed forever when he was selected to represent Pakistan’s U-19 cricket squad.
Tahir moved to South Africa after short appearances in county cricket. The Rainbow Nation’s perpetual lack of skilled spinners compelled him to integrate him, and he finally developed into one of their greatest spinning prodigies. He most recently played in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings.
5. Ali Khan
He made his cricket debut with the Winnipeg Hawks, putting on a show in the Canadian Global T20 League. His performance in the T10 event for Zaheer’s squad was as remarkable, as he created a two-wicket maiden. He will be a fascinating player to keep an eye on as we near the commencement of the IPL. Ali Khan will become the first American cricketer to accomplish this monumental accomplishment of playing for Kolkata Knightriders in the tournament as a substitute for Harry Gurney.
