Despite IPL ban, Pakistan players might feature for IPL employers

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has claimed that Pakistan players will soon be hired by Indian employers despite being banned from playing the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Pakistan players did feature in the IPL in the beginning but as the political situation between both countries deteriorated, the IPL banned the selection of players hailing from Pakistan.

However, Chopra believes that the trend will soon change as the Indian owners are likely to secure the services of Pakistani players for other leagues such as the newly formed T20 league launched by Cricket South Africa.

"Pakistani players are banned in the IPL but they play in all the other T20 leagues. So, since Indian franchise owners have bought teams in other leagues, they will be hiring Pakistan players as well. This is also going to happen. So, Pakistani players are soon going to play for Indian employers once again," said Aakash while speaking on his YouTube channel.

It is worth pointing out that Pakistan's vice-captain Shadab Khan has already featured for a team that was owned by Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan during his time in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The name of the team was Trinidad and Tobago Knight Riders.

It remains to be seen whether the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will provide NOCs to the players, especially with the increase in the number of games that the players are forced to play.