The Indian Premier League (IPL) disappointed many fans after it ended the participation of Pakistani players after the first season.
Pakistan’s legendary fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar took to Twitter on Friday to express disappointment that no Pakistani is allowed to showcase their talent in the ongoing IPL.
The 40-year-old shared an iconic picture of him carrying Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan after a match-winning performance against Delhi Daredevils for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the inaugural 2008 edition of IPL.
“Sad to see Pakistani players are not able to showcase their talent,” the caption read.
Really enjoyed my time in Ipl and in Kolkata Sad to see Pak players are not able2 showcase their talent
1day.. pic.twitter.com/ykOVSYMcxN— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) May 13, 2016
Shoaib, in a spell of three match-winning overs, bagged four important wickets of Virender Sehwag (0), Gautam Gambhir (10), AB de Villiers (7) and Manoj Tiwari (9) — first three caught and the last one dismissed LBW.
Many Pakistani players participated in the first season of the IPL such as Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Younus Khan, Umar Gul, Muhammad Asif, Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt.
However, the fluctuating relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals and security concerns has shut Pakistani players out of the tournament since 2008.
