Pakistani cricketers are not permitted to compete in the Indian Premier League, as we all know. They did, however, compete in the first edition of the competition. Unfortunately, the political tensions between these two countries deteriorated and were soon sinking when the BCCI decided to prohibit Pakistani cricketers from participating in the IPL.
A few cricketers of Pakistani origin who play for other countries still compete in the league. Some of them have been really successful as well.
5 Pakistani origin players who have played in the IPL despite the ban-
- Usman Khawaja
Usman Khwaja, one of Australia’s best openers at the moment has played in the Indian Premier League. His appearance in the Indian Premier League was limited to a single season in 2016-17 when he wore the Rising Pune Super Giants jersey. He was born in Islamabad but moved to Australia before beginning his cricket career, where he received his much-coveted debut.
- Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali is a Pakistani cricketer who has won the Indian Premier League. Despite being born in England, Moeen has Pakistani ancestors. Since 2018, the all-rounder has been a part of the competition. He did, however, join Chennai Super Kings for the IPL 2021 season. At the franchise, he was an instant hit. CSK made the most of Moeen and, as a result, the Englishman played a key role in the team’s title win. Moeen has been retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auctions.
- Owais Shah
Owais Shah, a Karachi native, rose through the cricketing ranks after beginning his career with Wycombe House. The Ken Barrington National Cup was one of his first trophies, and it helped him make an impression on the selectors. He didn’t have a particularly glamorous role in the game, but his limited heroics included a respectable 58 and a scorching 76 that saw him amass 506 runs in only seven games. He last played in the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals.
- Azhar Mahmood
An all-rounder who represented Pakistan until 2007, he made his IPL debut in 2012 with Kings XI Punjab. He was born in Rawalpindi and moved to England after his playing career ended. As he continued to play county cricket, he gained British citizenship quickly. Following that, he played for Kings XI Punjab and then Kolkata Knight Riders, highlighting his brief stints in the Indian Premier League.
- Imran Tahir
Imran Tahir is another Pakistani-born player who has won the IPL. He has won it twice, once in 2018 and again in 2021. Although his form has been inconsistent in recent seasons, he took 26 wickets in 2019. Apart from CSK, Tahir has also represented Delhi Capitals and Rising Pune Supergiants in the competition’s history.
