The uncertainty over the Lahore Lions’ participation in the ongoing Champions League Twenty20 ended last week with the Pakistani team qualifying for the group stage ahead of Mumbai Indians. The players were very nearly denied visas by the Indian High Commission when the tournament for top domestic teams from seven countries started on September 13.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan have dogged cricket since the second edition of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament in 2009. The Indian government blamed Pakistan for being behind terrorist attacks on several high-profile targes in Mumbai the previous year, and Pakistan players have paid the price ever since.
Pakistan players were banned from the IPL in 2009. The next year, 11 Pakistani players were included in the auction – Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir – but none were selected because the owners of the franchises had doubts whether these players would be able to get visas. The fourth edition in 2010 did not include any Pakistan players either, though Wasim Akram accepted the job of coaching the Kolkata Knight Riders. No Pakistanis have played in the tournament since.
However, Pakistani teams began to take part in the Champions League Twenty20 in 2012. The Sialkot Stallions played in the qualifying rounds but failed to get past it. Last year, the Faisalabad Wolves met with the same fate. This year, the fairy tale story of the Lahore Lions very nearly failed to leave the pages because of their visa woes.
The Lahore Lions are virtually the Pakistan A team. They are led by former Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammed Hafeez and include Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Saeed.
Mohammed Hafeez told reporters that allowing Pakistanis into the IPL would raise the standard of the tournament, since Pakistan is currently ranked third the International Cricket Council rankings. He went on to say that Pakistani players love playing in India and that the inclusion would make the league a much better one.
With the Lahore Lions qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League Twenty20, expectations are high. The prospects are looking good for the Pakistani team and if they continue to show such spark, Indian officials will have to allow Pakistani cricketers to play in the next edition of the IPL.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan have dogged cricket since the second edition of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament in 2009. The Indian government blamed Pakistan for being behind terrorist attacks on several high-profile targes in Mumbai the previous year, and Pakistan players have paid the price ever since.
Pakistan players were banned from the IPL in 2009. The next year, 11 Pakistani players were included in the auction – Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir – but none were selected because the owners of the franchises had doubts whether these players would be able to get visas. The fourth edition in 2010 did not include any Pakistan players either, though Wasim Akram accepted the job of coaching the Kolkata Knight Riders. No Pakistanis have played in the tournament since.
However, Pakistani teams began to take part in the Champions League Twenty20 in 2012. The Sialkot Stallions played in the qualifying rounds but failed to get past it. Last year, the Faisalabad Wolves met with the same fate. This year, the fairy tale story of the Lahore Lions very nearly failed to leave the pages because of their visa woes.
The Lahore Lions are virtually the Pakistan A team. They are led by former Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammed Hafeez and include Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Saeed.
Mohammed Hafeez told reporters that allowing Pakistanis into the IPL would raise the standard of the tournament, since Pakistan is currently ranked third the International Cricket Council rankings. He went on to say that Pakistani players love playing in India and that the inclusion would make the league a much better one.
With the Lahore Lions qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League Twenty20, expectations are high. The prospects are looking good for the Pakistani team and if they continue to show such spark, Indian officials will have to allow Pakistani cricketers to play in the next edition of the IPL.
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