Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and World Cup-winning captain, criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season begins in Ahmedabad on Friday, March 31. The ongoing tussle between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the non-participation of Pakistani players in the IPL was the subject of Khan’s attack.
Khan accused the BCCI of arrogance and dictating cricket terms by not allowing Pakistani players to participate in the IPL, which is the world’s richest cricket league. He lamented the tense relationship between Pakistan and India and claimed that India behaves arrogantly in the cricketing world as a superpower.
“It is unfortunate, the relationship between Pakistan and India. There is a lot of arrogance in the way India now behaves in the cricketing world as a superpower,” Khan was quoted as saying to Pakistan’s Times Radio.
He added: “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.”
Khan also acknowledged that Pakistan runs a very good quality T20 tournament, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which attracts foreign players. He opined that if India doesn’t allow Pakistani players to play in the IPL, Pakistan should not worry about it. He urged Pakistan to focus on its own league and the excellent clutch of young cricketers coming up.
“I think if India doesn’t allow Pakistan players then so be it. We have an excellent clutch of young cricketers coming up so we shouldn’t worry about it,” Khan added further.
The 16th season of the IPL started with a glittering opening ceremony at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Bollywood actresses Tamannaah Bhatia and Rashmika Mandanna performed alongside melodious singer Arijit Singh ahead of the first match of the IPL 2023 between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
