No Pakistani player has been a part of the IPL since after 2008, its year of inception. Azhar Mahmood, however, featured in quite a few editions representing Kings XI Punjab owing to his British passport.
In IPL 2017, two Afghanistan cricketers — Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan — will make their debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
While a few Twitteratis responded in a positive manner stating that sports should be kept away from politics and existing problems between the two nations, there were a few who found the tweet to be insulting and a bit insensitive.
Tensions between the two nations had reached an all-time high post the 26/11 attacks and has acted as a deterrent for several events.
Though the two nations continue to play cricket in international tournaments, they haven’t played a Test series in nearly a decade.
Earlier in 2015, former fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar had pulled out of commentating for the fifth match between India and South Africa after Shiv Sena, a political party, protested against reviving India-Pakistan cricket ties.
The 10th edition of the lucrative T20 league kicks off at Hyderabad on Wednesday with Royal Challengers Bangalore locking horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
