IPL franchises unwilling to buy Pakistan players due to security concerns: PCB chief Shahryar Khan

PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan 

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan has said that it is difficult for his country’s players to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to security concerns of the participating franchises. No Pakistani cricketers have featured in the league since the inaugural edition in 2008.

“The Indian board has said that the franchises want to have Pakistani players - crowd pullers like Shahid Afridi - but they don’t for fear of security,” he told reporters.

“The concern of the franchises is that the majority of the crowds in India are not favourable to Pakistani players and they fear security issues if Pakistani players take part in the IPL,” he added.

Cricketing relations between India and Pakistan are cordial: Khan

During the recent Hockey Champions Trophy held in Bhubaneshwar, the Pakistani hockey team were seen celebrating their semi-final win over India in an ugly manner. Khan, however, believes that cricketing relations between the two nations have always been cordial, and he hoped that it stayed that way in the future as well.

“Ties between the Pakistan and Indian cricket boards have always been cordial even during tense diplomatic and political ties and we hope it continues that way. But what has happened in hockey and kabaddi is unfortunate and could have been avoided. What happens that this leads to negative reactions from Indian crowds and media and that is why I don’t see our players in the IPL very soon,” he said.

When asked about his views on restarting bilateral series with India next year, the 80-year-old felt that it was too early to comment now and would depend on the situation at that point in time.

“Frankly speaking everything will depend on the situation of ties between both countries then. So we can only hope that the first series of this bilateral agreement goes ahead next year,” he said.