Former Pakistani cricketer Yasir Arafat recently stated in an interview that he got an offer to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2008 edition of the Indian Premier League. Along with this, he also added that he himself was asked by the owner of the team, Shahrukh Khan, to join the team.
Let us tell you that big Pakistani players like Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Asif, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir were able to be a part of this league in the first edition of IPL. Pakistani players took part in this league only in the 2008 edition, the inaugural edition of the competition.
Later, after the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, Pakistani players were not allowed to play in the league due to political tensions between the two countries.
While talking to a YouTube channel named Cricket Den, he said that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had shortlisted the names for the first edition of IPL but unfortunately his name was not there.
He added that he was playing in the English County Cricket for Kent in 2008 where KKR’s scouting team had specially come from India and met him there, “I was playing County Cricket for Kent in 2008 where KKR’s Scouting Team specially came from India.”
The Pakistani cricketer further said that, at first he thought it was a joke because he couldn’t believe how some famous star like Shahrukh Khan can have him in their squad.
Arafat added continued that he received complaints that the KKR was not able to reach him. He concluded saying that after the 2008 Mumbai blast happened, Pakistani players have been since been not allowed in the IPL.
Even though Pakistani players are not allowed in the competition, but former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood became the coach of the Kings XI Punjab team after assuming foreign citizenship in 2011. At the same time, former Pakistan pace bowler and legend Wasim Akram also played his role as the bowling coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team for couple of years.