IPL 2023: Pakistan’s World Cup-winning captain Imran khan slammed BCCI and called the cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan a sad affair. Imran Khan also said that players of his nation should not worry about India not allowing them to play in the Indian Premier League. He also accused India of acting arrogantly and behaving like a superpower in cricket. Khan criticized that the BCCI’s ability to generate more funds is the reason for this. Follow Indian Premier League 2023 Live Updates with Insidesport.IN
While speaking to Times Radio, Imran Khan said, “The cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan is a sad affair. India behaves arrogantly as if they are a superpower in world cricket.”
It is to be noted that Pakistani cricketers participated in the first IPL season in 2008. But the terror attack in Mumbai later that year heightened political tensions between the two countries. Eventually, Pakistani players were banned from competing in the lucrative T20 tournament.
IPL 2023: Imran Khan Urged Fans not be Concerned about Exclusion from IPL
Asserting his faith in Pakistan’s young cricketers, the former captain urged fans not to be concerned about their exclusion from the IPL.
“I find it strange that the Indian cricket board would take it out on the Pakistan cricket players (by not allowing them to feature in the IPL) and it just reeks of arrogance. If India doesn’t allow Pakistan players (to play IPL) so be it. Pakistan should not worry about it,” said Imran.
Additionally, Imran claimed that the BCCI has grown arrogant as a result of its capacity to bring in a lot of money.
“Because of their ability to generate a lot of funds, lot more than any other country. I think they almost dictate now as a sort of the arrogance of a superpower of who they should play and who they shouldn’t,” said Imran.
The 70-year-old referred to the BCCI’s targeting of Pakistani players as an act of arrogance. He added that Pakistan draws foreign cricketers because of its premier T20 competition, the Pakistan Super competition (PSL).
“BCCI is targeting Pakistani cricketers, which is a display of arrogance. However, Pakistan cricket now has its own quality T20 league [PSL] where foreign cricketers play,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League kicked off on Friday, March 31. The season opener of IPL 2023 was played between defending champions Gujarat Titans and four-time winners Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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