Akram requests BCCI to allow Pakistani players in IPL
Former Pakistan captain and pace legend Wasim Akram has requested the Indian cricket board (BCCI) to allow Pakistani players to participate in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.
|Last Updated: Apr 06, 2013, 12:15 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Karachi: Former Pakistan captain and pace legend Wasim Akram has requested the Indian cricket board (BCCI) to allow Pakistani players to participate in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.
Akram said Pakistani players would only help add colour to the Twenty20 tournament.
"I have always been a great believer that sports and politics should be kept apart and if our players take part in the IPL it will only raise the bar of the event," said Akram, who was the bowling consultant of current IP champions Kolkata Knight Riders.
Pakistani cricketers have not been allowed to take part in the lucrative IPL after the first edition due to varied reasons but mainly because of the diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Although Pakistani umpires, commentators and coaches will feature in the ongoing sixth edition of the IPL but no cricketer has been invited for the event.
Akram felt since Pakistani bowlers are better than India`s, it will only benefit the IPL.
Although Pakistan team toured India for a short ODI series in December last year but the BCCI still didn`t clear the way for the players from the beighbouring country to participate in the IPL.
Last year the BCCI, however, for the first time allowed a Pakistani team to take part in the Champions League Twenty20 held in South Africa.
Akram also confirmed that he had signed an agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board and as per the contract he would help in producing more pace bowlers for the country.
Akram has also entered into a partnership with a leading cellular company, Ufone to hold trials and search for raw and pacers throughout the country.
But he said he will be holding a 10-day specialised camp for the Pakistan team pacers and upcoming youngsters performing in domestic cricket in Karachi later this month.
"I am happy that now I will be able to play some role in Pakistan cricket because I want to give back what Pakistan cricket has given me. I want young bowlers to take advantage of my expertise and experience," Akram said.
The former captain also said that he would be working in tandem with the national team bowling coach Muhammad Akram during Pakistan`s training camp in Abbotabad ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in England in June.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.