If IPL had Pakistanis

Indian Premier League or most commonly known as IPL is running at full swing. IPL first started in 2008, soon became the richest and the most popular league of Cricket. BCCI hosts the league and Indian players as well as foreign players divided in franchises or teams fight for the cup. Since its start cricketers from all the Test nations and two Associates Ireland and Netherlands have participated in various seasons of the IPL but only Pakistan players were stopped to participate further citing political reasons. Whatever the reasons might be, the bottom line is that Pakistanis haven’t seen their players participate in one of the most followed sporting event since 2008. Let us suppose that in a parallel universe, Pakistan players are allowed to participate in the IPL. The following players could have filled the voids present in some of the teams. Umar Akmal (Sunrisers Hyderabad) Sunrisers have one of the most destructive top orders in T20 cricket. David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan as openers, followed by Kane Williamson as one-down. They the pace of Mustafizur Rahman, Ashish Nehra and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The only thing they lag in is some international quality middle-order batsman who can score a quick-fire 30-35 on one day and support the team if the top order fails on the other day. Umar Akmal is surely what they need. He has the ability to hold one end up and generate some quick runs against any bowler and on any wicket. He, along with Yuvraj Singh, can help save the Sunrisers’ ship nearly every time. Umar Akmal Saeed Ajmal (Kings XI Punjab) Kings XI Punjab has had their best batting combination in all IPLs. Skipper Murali Vijay & Hashim Amla, then the two Ms (Maxwell and Miller), followed by Marcus Stoinis and bowlers like Mitchell Johnson, Sandeep Sharma and young Rishi Dhawan. Despite these, a spinner is missing. Saeed Ajmal is their need. Punjab has given away 190+ both times they fielded first just because they didn’t have the services of a genuine spinner. Saeed Ajmal’s four economical overs can bring down the score to 140-150 and can also be used during the crunchy death overs. Saeed Ajmal Umar Gul (Royal Challengers Bangalore) Bangalore though has the services of Varun Aaron, Chris Jordan but none of them has ‘the’ impact of a good fast bowler. Umar Gul can give them his Yorkers and the line and length required of a good fast bowler. He can be very effective during the death overs and he can complete the Bangalore’s bowling armory. None of the Bangalore bowlers is as experienced as Umar is. Youngsters like Aaron will have a great deal to learn from the second highest wicket-taker in international T20s. Umar Gul Mohammed Hafeez (Kolkata Knight Riders) Mohammad Hafeez could be Kolkata’s solution for the problematic opening slot. Hafeez and Gambhir in the beginning and Manish Pandey to come in next seems like a good combination. Hafeez knows the value of his wicket and especially in the shortest format he can be very destructive. He can hit the long ball and at the same time, keep his head calm in pressure situations. To add to his abilities, Hafeez can give them two-three overs of power play without giving much. Thus eventually, helping Gambhir to save Sunil Narine for the later part of the innings. Mohd Hafeez Ahmed Shehzad (Mumbai Indians) Much can be said about Ahmed Shehzad. Every team will eagerly want him but in my opinion, Mumbai Indians should get Shehzad. He is a stroke player and values his wicket. He will compliment Rohit Sharma as the other opener. Parthiv Patel can therefore, be used down the order for later stage of the game. He takes his time to settle but when he is settled, he can tear apart any bowling attack. He will be the right kind of spark for Mumbai Indians. Ahmed Shehzad Imran Nazir (Delhi Daredevils) Imran Nazir of Pakistan poses with his Man of the Match award. (Photo by Graham Crouch-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) Delhi Daredevils are the other team short of a quality opener. Imran Nazir can serve the cause. He can hit them big and change the course of the match on his own. Delhi lost Sehwag to Punjab but could get his carbon-copy Imran Nazir. Just what Sehwag has done for Delhi, Imran has done the same for Sialkot Stallions in Pakistan. Plus, he can be used for his medium-paced off-breaks during the middle overs of the game.

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