After the delicious main course, it is now time for a fancy dessert. Yes, you got it right. After the T20 World Cup, it is now time for the fanciest and most glitzy cricket league once again.
Also read: IPL 2016: How the IPL team owners make money, how the IPL players are paid - Decoding IPL economics
The cash-rich tournament has witnessed some nail-biting encounters between the finest stars from the industry. But when it comes to neighbors Pakistan, the IPL remains nothing but a forbidden fruit.
If the IPL is all about unequalled entertainment, the fans have come short of receiving it in its fullest grandeur all these years. The likes of Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, Mohammed Amir, and few other Pakistani cricketers have remained conspicuous by their deprivation in the tournament.
And every honest fan would agree that some of these brilliant performers would have taken the thrill of the IPL to a whole new level. Pakistan has produced few of the finest T20 players who miss out on the tournament each year, thanks to the ruthless politics.
Imagine Virat Kohli walking out with Ahmed Shehzad to open for RCB. Mohammed Hafeez spinning the ball to southpaw Yuvraj Singh and it’s either a six or a clean bowled. Shahid Afridi playing against RCB and doing a Chris Gayle. A spectacular bat-and-ball show between Wahab Riaz and Steve Smith. Mohammed Amir taking another 8-3 against your opponent team.
Well, the list of imaginations is as long as the wait for its actuality.
The Pakistan cricket team has effortlessly been one of the most successful sides in the T20 format. Even as individual players, the team has few of the most attractive cricketers tailored for the T20 format.
Here is a list of men in green who we would have loved to watch play in the ninth edition of the IPL:
Shahid Afridi
If Afridi was a part of the IPL auctions, we are sure he would be one among the most sought-after bids. The boom-boom man played for Deccan Charges in the inaugural season of the IPL but failed to deliver much from his end.
But there is no denying that he is one of the most explosive batsmen in the game’s shortest version. If cricket is a religion, the T20 format has proved to be the Mecca for Afridi. From being the man of the tournament in the World T20 2007 to one of the biggest stars of the Big Bash league, Afridi has much thrill and charisma associated with his name.
Along with his signature shots, he can also pick a wicket or two and thus makes for a complete package. And not to forget, his idiosyncratic celebration stance adds to the frenzy in the crowd. What a mouthwatering show would it be to see Afridi fire on all cylinders in the IPL.
Mohammad Hafeez
Mohammad Hafeez is a vital asset to any T20 team and has proved his mettle by being a part of various T20 leagues around the world. In 2008, the Kolkata Knight Riders had picked him for his destructive ability to bat at the top and also bowl crucial off-spinners.
Over the last four years, the T20 skipper has been one of the most improved all-rounders in international cricket. Along with being a key strike bowler, Hafeez is also a solid batsman who produces results consistently. Fans have seen some admirable performances from the all-rounder in the shortest format of the game for both Pakistan and Faisalabad Wolves, his local team.
Being the captain of the Pakistani team, the right-handed all-rounder would also prove beneficial as an anchor to the team. He surely would have been a trump card for any of the IPL contingents.
We would love to feast our eyes on a show between Hafeez and any of the top left-handed batsmen.
Wahab Riaz
Let alone T20, Wahab Riaz is one of the most consistent and effective bowlers in all formats of the game. His brilliant yorkers leave the batsman handicapped and the spectators spellbound. We have seen some amazing deliveries from Riaz in the World Cup 2015, Asia Cup and the World T20, which we would have loved to relive in the IPL.
His aggressiveness with the ball can prove crucial to any bowling line up. Aggression, class, temperament, class, ability and lots of talent, this one is a big loss for the IPL.
Also, we cannot help but remember the “W” rivalry between Wahab and Watson from the World Cup 2015 quarterfinal. Wahab’s bowling was undoubtedly one of the best elements of the tournament.
The quarterfinal saw an intense rivalry between Wahab’s ball and Watson’s bat, which would have been a delight to witness in the IPL too. But looks like we may have to wait a few more years to enjoy one such battle.
Mohammed Amir
Mohammed Amir made his return to international cricket in January 2016 after finishing a 5-year ban made for his involvement in spot-fixing. And ever since, his form has been sensational.
One of the best instances of Amir’s class is the recent Asia Cup match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. Virat Kohli and Mohammed Amir collectively brought back the life of an otherwise suicidal game by Pakistan. The duo turned the match into an unpredictable show.
For the most part of the match, India was ahead of their neighbors. But for a brief while, Mohammed Amir produced bowling of such exhilarating quality that made us all wish for many more on-field rivalries between Kohli and Amir.
The chase of 84 runs was made competitive by Amir’s four overs of intimidating and incisive swing bowling. It took only the first two overs of the match for a meagre score of 84 to look huge when Amir reduced India to 8-3 after the first 12 balls.
How exciting would it be to watch yet another such contest between Virat Kohli and Mohammed Amir during the IPL? Well, if only...
Mohammed Irfan
The first thing that crosses the mind when Mohammed Irfan’s name is mentioned is his enormous height. The bowler’s height of 7'1" makes him the tallest cricketer to play International cricket, a title previously shared by former Australian pacer Bruce Reid and West Indian bowler Joel Garner, both of whom have a height of 6'8". Mohammed Irfan’s height itself proves intimidating to a few batsmen.
Irfan had signed a memorandum with the Kolkata Knight Riders to play for them in the 2011 season of the IPL. But this deal remains valid only as long as BCCI and PCB give their approval.
We would love to watch Mohammed Irfan play for the Mumbai Indians and bowl a delivery caught by Parthiv Patel behind the stumps. The spectators would sure enjoy the duo celebrating the long and short of the wicket together!
If given an opportunity, the left-arm fast bowler can do much justice to the IPL franchise.
Somehow, India without Pakistan within the 22 yards is always incomplete. The IPL has long been deprived of the swing bowling and fierce hitting abilities with the bat by its beloved neighbors. And to say the least, it is very unfair to the fans of the sport.
Meanwhile, we are still imagining Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers and Shahid Afridi playing in the same tournament!
Dear PCB and BCCI, are you reading?
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