Kamran: Wistful, frustrated and playing in a lesser league

[Switchblade]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/specials/cricket/ipl-2014/ipl2014-dontmiss/kamran-wistful-frustrated-and-playing-in-a-lesser-league/sp-article10-1214188.aspx Kamran Akmal struggles to take his gaze away from the giant hoarding near the Al Maktoum Bridge in Dubai. Virat Kohli’s larger than life portrait, advertising a fairness cream, leaps out of it. The timing of the hoardings being erected across Dubai is a no-brainer. There are many such hoardings featuring captains of each IPL franchise, lined up close to each other. But for the Pakistan ‘keeper, they serve as a reminder of his time with Rajasthan Royals. He turns a touch nostalgic too. The strained relationship between India and Pakistan following the 2008 terror strikes in Mumbai prompted the IPL franchises to keep out Pakistani players. That has only meant prolonged frustration at not being a part of the richest league, that too next door. It has been six years now, but for Kamran, in Dubai these days to play in a local T20 tournament, the hoarding reminds him of what he is missing. Many of his Pakistan team mates —Younis Khan, Naseer Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, and out-of-favour Imran Nazir — are also in Dubai to play in the less fancied tournament. The matches are played at the ICC cricket academy, barely two kilometres from the Dubai International cricket stadium where the IPL matches are being played. While keeping at one end, Kamran can see the stadium, imposing and brightly lit up in the evening. He can perhaps feel the reverberation too, caused by the boisterous fans, most of expats. The hurt of Pakistan players still being kept out of IPL, and the desire to play in it, comes across as he fires in his questions. “What will it take and how long will it take for the IPL to start considering Pakistan players again?” “Is it government policy or IPL policy?” “Why have Sri Lanka players not been picked (this time)?” “How can it be a truly global cricket league without the presence of Pakistani, Sri Lankan and English players?” One is not sure who can provide answers to the barrage of questions, and when.

[beetle]

The hurt is far less than getting blown in bomb blasts...being held hostage,getting gunned down just because we are Indians. You reap what your government sows.

[maniac]

Even if pak players were allowed, no one would pick akmal

[Sachin=GOD]

The hurt is far less than getting blown in bomb blasts...being held hostage,getting gunned down just because we are Indians. You reap what your government sows.

I don't understand this. I would understand not having cricket with Pakistan and not having Pak cricketers for ipl IF the Indian Govt stopped all diplomatic relations with Pakistan. But merely stopping cricket (and that too, we play World Cup, Asia Cup and even played an ODI series in Dec 2012) makes absolutely no sense to me.

[Switchblade]

I don't understand this. I would understand not having cricket with Pakistan and not having Pak cricketers for ipl IF the Indian Govt stopped all diplomatic relations with Pakistan. But merely stopping cricket (and that too' date=' we play World Cup, Asia Cup and even played an ODI series in Dec 2012) makes absolutely no sense to me.[/quote'] They should have never played that 2012 series and then invited their CLT20 team in my opinion it just shows that BCCI is very inconsistent.

[kaptaan]

“What will it take and how long will it take for the IPL to start considering Pakistan players again?†“Is it government policy or IPL policy?†“Why have Sri Lanka players not been picked (this time)?â€

who the feck are you to question about srilankan presence in IPL ? :giggle::giggle: malinga,thisara perera are playing in IPL...franchises didn't show interest in lankan players because they wont be available for the entire season

[Roshanrocks]

Our Zehiniyat is like this only :idunno: ANd like Afridi said, our DIl is not badaa like theirs :sniffle:

[Switchblade]

Imran Nazir was actually present in one of the games.I think it was SRH vs Kings game .

[SLICKR392]

Even if pak players were allowed' date=' no one would pick akmal[/quote'] LOL!

[someone]

They deserve it. How can one forget their cricketers indecent comments after the first IPL. They don't respect our country, and will only make the tournament dirty with their conspiracies theories. They take everything for granted and believe it's their birth right to have it especially when involving huge sums of money. Btw, it's an Indian Premier League, so certainly doesn't need the advice of another countryman on how to run it.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

India is unsafe for them.The PCB said so in 2009.

[game_changerr]

,kamraan the saviour:haha:.....talking about sri lanka and england,,,,,khud ka thikana nahi,n talking as a slc/ecb ambassador

[velu]

only if pak players had not committed their harakiri in IPL 2 :hehe:

[Temujin Khaghan]

cant we ban fairness cream ads?

[Temujin Khaghan]

“What will it take and how long will it take for the IPL to start considering Pakistan players again?” your "government"(failed govt.) should stop training terrorists to kill Indians even after peace treaties “Is it government policy or IPL policy?” no one wants terrorists “Why have Sri Lanka players not been picked (this time)?” beggars should only worry about how many coins are there in their begging bowls “How can it be a truly global cricket league without the presence of Pakistani, Sri Lankan and English players?” Indian money = Global cricket League...

[undisputed chap]

cant we ban fairness cream ads?

Srk would be unemployed then

[Debutant]

Got to feel bad for paki players They have this pathetic habit of talking thrash about India but still they are suffering without their fault

[Temujin Khaghan]

they will cry anyway... even if you employ them or not.

[undisputed chap]

No one will play them even if they were allowed to.

[TheWall]

whats wrong with this khatmal??? next what?? why isn't uthappa opening? why r there too many red/blue jerseys in ipl teams?