Virat Kohli and Babar Azam in RCB jersey
Although they were a part of the IPL in the inaugural season, no Pakistani player has played in the IPL since then. Fans of both Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have wondered what led to the ban of Pakistan’s players in the IPL. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the events that led to this exclusion — a story that involves politics, cross-border tensions, and administrative decisions that reshaped the cricketing landscape.
When the Indian Premier League started in 2008, eight teams had to pick their playing squad from the list of players who had participated in the tournament auction. This list included players from different countries, including Pakistan, as 11 Pakistani players were also a part of the first season of the tournament. They were picked by several franchises and known for their performance in the T20 format, their demand was also high among the teams at that time.
| Player | Price (in US dollars) | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Shoaib Akhtar | 425,000 | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Shoaib Malik | 500,000 | Delhi Daredevils |
| Shahid Afridi | 675,000 | Deccan Chargers |
| Younis Khan | 225,000 | Rajasthan Royals |
| Mohammad Asif | 650,000 | Delhi Daredevils |
| Kamran Akmal | 150,000 | Rajasthan Royals |
| Umar Gul | 150,000 | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 150,000 | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Misbah-ul-Haq | 125,000 | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Salman Butt | 100,000 | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Sohail Tanvir | 100,000 | Rajasthan Royals |
As a result, a total of 11 Pakistani players participated in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League, sharing the same dressing room and team with Indian players too. Here’s how the inaugural IPL season went for some Pakistani players:
Their performances showed the quality Pakistan brought to the format. Unfortunately, 2008 would be the first and last time fans saw Pakistani players in the IPL, as political tensions soon took over.
Following the IPL 2008 edition, fans thought that finally the Indian and Pakistani cricket players were cooperating with each other and playing together, further improving their bonds, but what happened next was unexpected. In the same year, on 26 November, the Mumbai terror attacks took place, which shook the entire country. Along with that, the attackers involved in this scenario were linked with Pakistan, which further deteriorated the relations between India and Pakistan.
The Mumbai terror attacks started on 26 November and ended on 29 November, marking a dark chapter in India’s history. Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror group, was involved in the same, as they carried out attacks at multiple locations in Mumbai. These attacks were carried out in several locations, which included the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Leopold Café, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Nariman House, Cama Hospital, Metro Cinema & other nearby sites.
The attackers arrived from the sea route via Karachi, Pakistan, and further split themselves into groups that went on to attack at different locations with rifles, grenades, and explosives. It took a total of three days for the National Security Guard to neutralize the attack, which had been carried out by the group. Due to these attacks, 166 people died and more than 300 were injured, leaving the entire nation in shock. On the same day when the attack started, the England cricket team was also in India for the five-match ODI series and three-match Test series.
Following the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, the links between India and Pakistan had already deteriorated in all aspects, including sports. The Pakistani players who participated in the IPL 2008 season were not picked by the teams in the IPL for the 2009 season. It should be noted that the BCCI didn’t issue a notice regarding the ban of Pakistani players in the IPL, but also cited that, due to security and logistical reasons, they won’t be playing in the IPL seasons.
This move took place due to the political climate, which became even more complex between both countries, and the door for Pakistani players has not opened ever since. Along with that, even the IPL teams have refrained from signing Pakistani players to their teams, due to public sentiment and political sensitivities. This silent but effective exclusion of Pakistan cricketers became permanent. What could have been a platform for sporting unity turned into a symbol of strained relations.
One of the biggest questions which still remains in the minds of IPL fans is whether there is a chance to see Pakistani players performing in the IPL or not. This remains uncertain, as the tensions between India and Pakistan have not gone any better over the past few years. However, several Pakistani players have shown interest in being a part of the Indian Premier League, including notable names such as Mohammad Amir, who is willing to put his name on the IPL 2026 auction list. Since he now holds citizenship of the United Kingdom, he could be able to participate in the auction, and might also be picked by any team.