Several cricket fans around the world are waiting for the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. The gala T20 tournament was called off midway after multiple players and staff members tested positive for the widely-spreading COVID-19 virus. With <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/">IPL</a> </strong>being celebrated as one of the best T20 competitions worldwide, the league&#8217;s suspension left many cricket lovers disappointed.

The inaugural season of the prominent tournament was played way back in 2008 when T20 was still a baby in the cricket world. However, the 20-over format has taken giant strides over the years, and so has IPL. As a result, T20 stars from all over the globe have been plying their trade in the T20 extravaganza. However, that’s not the case with Pakistani cricketers.

Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar including many Pakistani players featured in the inaugural IPL edition. However, the political tension between the two nations prohibited the participation of Pakistan players in IPL after 2008. Nevertheless, Pakistan has produced many T20 stars over the years who made a mark worldwide. Although these players can’t play IPL, they would certainly have been a force to reckon with if they did.

Here we’ll look at one Pakistan player who would have fit into each team in IPL 2021

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-352517" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_358508.jpg" alt="Shaheen Afridi" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-352517" class="wp-caption-text">Shaheen Shah Afridi. (Photo by OLLY GREENWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Punjab Kings lost three of their eight games in the first leg of IPL 2021, and blaming their bowling line-up won’t be wrong. The likes of Mohammed Shami, Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith struggled to contain the run-flow as PBKS ended up on the losing side despite putting a substantial score on the board.

Hence, the KL Rahul-led side badly needs a potent pacer who can deliver in any situation. <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shaheen-shah-afridi-reveals-the-name-of-his-all-time-favorite-pakistan-cricketers/">Shaheen Afridi</a></strong> is one guy, who would have eased this problem. The left-arm arm pacer has been spearheading Pakistan’s pace attack in all three formats, and his record is also phenomenal.

Afridi doesn’t tend to leak many runs, and his happy knack of taking wickets regularly makes him a captain’s delight. Hence, he would have taken a lot of pressure from Shami. Not to forget, the 21-year-old is a left-arm pacer, and his away-going deliveries would have troubled dashers like Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler.

2. Royal Challengers Bangalore – Mohammad Amir

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-469212" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Amir.jpg" alt="Mohammad Amir" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-469212" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Amir. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Now, this is very much possible! <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-will-discuss-the-problems-he-is-facing-when-we-meet-during-psl-babar-azam-on-mohammad-amirs-premature-retirement/">Mohammad Amir </a></strong>has retired from international cricket and has settled in England. Hence, the left-arm pacer would be eligible to play in IPL after getting British citizenship and a passport. With Amir being one of the finest left-arm fast bowlers going around, a bidding war is likely to take place if the speedster lands in the IPL auction pool.

In that case, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should not worry about breaking the bank. Death bowling has been an eternal problem for the Virat Kohli-led side. While the current squad comprises many talented fast bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Harshal Patel, none of them have a significant amount of experience.

Hence, Amir would be an ideal addition to the side. While the talismanic speedster can swing the new ball, nailing yorkers in death overs isn’t a massive challenge for him. On top of that, Amir and Kohli celebrating animatedly after the fall of a wicket would be a sight to behold for the fans.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-486499" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Haris-Rauf.jpg" alt="Haris Rauf" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-486499" class="wp-caption-text">Haris Rauf. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

Three-time champions Chennai Super Kings enjoyed a stellar campaign in the first half of IPL 2021, winning five of their seven games. Although they ticked almost all their boxes, their fast bowling department looked slightly weak. The likes of Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo and Sam Curran are handy bowlers indeed, but none of them can set the speed gun on fire.

Haris Rauf’s addition would have undoubtedly filled that void in the team. The right-arm fast bowler can bowl at a high pace, and his height helps him extract extra bounce from the surface. If that’s not enough, Rauf also has a bucket of variations in his arsenal, which makes him a potent weapon in the crunch overs.

Notably, Rauf has proved his mettle in tournaments like Pakistan Super League and Big Bash League. Hence, he wouldn’t have found it much challenging to understand the drill of IPL. One should also take the <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/heres-why-ms-dhoni-turned-up-for-a-press-conference-with-the-entire-indian-team-in-2009/">MS Dhoni</a></strong> factor into notice. The CSK skipper is known to bring the best out of bowlers, and his guidance would indeed have helped Rauf.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-403646" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Hafeez.jpg" alt="Mohammad Hafeez" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-403646" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Hafeez. (Photo by ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammad-hafeez-says-that-he-has-to-open-a-bat-factory-after-fakhar-zamans-comments/">Mohammad Hafeez</a></strong> has certainly aged like fine wine and only seems to get better with time. The veteran batsman has been a mainstay of Pakistan’s T20I batting line-up over the years owing to his excellent understanding of the game. Hafeez can score quick runs in the middle overs without taking too many risks.

Hence, his addition would have bolstered the Rajasthan Royals batting line-up. Their middle-order looked pretty fragile after Ben Stokes got ruled out of the season. Therefore, putting someone like Hafeez at number four would have provided a lot of balance to the team. Although the 40-year-old doesn’t bowl a lot nowadays, he wouldn’t have minded chipping in with a couple of overs if needed.

Notably, Hafeez is not entirely alien to the happenings of IPL. He played eight games for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the inaugural edition. However, he has evolved a lot since that competition, and his inclusion in the auction pool would have ignited a bidding war.

5. Kolkata Knight Riders – Fakhar Zaman

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-506485" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Fakhar-Zaman-1.jpg" alt="Fakhar Zaman" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-506485" class="wp-caption-text">Fakhar Zaman. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/he-is-the-most-complete-athlete-i-have-seen-team-indias-fielding-coach-heaps-praise-on-shubman-gill/">Shubman Gill</a></strong>, Nitish Rana, and Rahul Tripathi formed Kolkata Knight Riders’ top-order in IPL 2021. These three batsmen are indeed talented, but none have a lot of experience behind their back. Hence, the two-time champions would have been delighted to give the purple and gold jersey to Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman.

Zaman is a dasher who likes to take on the bowlers from the outset. The left-handed batsman also has a wide range of shots which helps him take advantage of the field restrictions. Hence, he would have provided a lot of stability to the batting line-up and eased Gill and Rana’s job.

Not to forget, Zaman has also played T20I at the number three position, and his versatility would have allowed KKR to go with certain combinations. All these factors would have made the dynamic southpaw a formidable addition to KKR’s line-up. Well, who knows, the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise might go all out for Zaman if Pakistan players get the allowance to play in IPL.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-491324" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Wahab-Riaz.jpg" alt="Wahab Riaz" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-491324" class="wp-caption-text">Wahab Riaz. (Photo by ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Winners of five IPL seasons, Mumbai Indians hardly have any chink in their armour.  While dashers Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav have been scoring runs consistently, Jasprit Bumrah, Rahul Chahar, and Trent Boult have been brilliant with the ball in hand. In the all-rounder category, MI has Pandya brothers (Hardik and Krunal) and Kieron Pollard.

Now, there’s barely any room for betterment in this line-up. However, the presence of so many Indian stars allows the Mumbai-based side to add an extra overseas bowler. Pakistan’s <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/psl-2021-was-not-postponed-because-of-me-and-wahab-riaz-daren-sammy/">Wahab Riaz</a></strong> can occupy that position to make MI’s bowling line-up even more intimidating. Riaz can bowl at a high pace, and his vast experience makes him a boon for any team.

It’ll indeed be scary to face Riaz, Bumrah, and Boult in the same match. Hence, the 35-year-old speedster would have been a substantial addition to the Rohit Sharma-led side. Notably, Riaz is also a handy lower-order batsman, and one can check out his sixes against Dale Steyn to verify the fact.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-501443" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Babar-Azam-1.jpg" alt="Babar Azam" width="640" height="399" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-501443" class="wp-caption-text">Babar Azam. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

With regular skipper Shreyas Iyer missing the first leg of IPL 2021, Delhi Capitals struggled for a potent number three batsman. Ajinkya Rahane was tried initially but got replaced by Steve Smith after a few failures. The Australian batsman didn’t make a significant impact either. In that situation, DC would have loved the services of <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-feel-proud-hes-one-of-the-best-babar-azam-reacts-to-his-comparison-with-virat-kohli/">Babar Azam</a></strong>.

Azam has been the mainstay of Pakistan’s T20I batting line-up owing to his ability to score consistently at an impressive strike rate. This would have made him an ideal candidate to fill the void in DC’s batting line-up. Moreover, Azam would have played even more freely in Delhi’s line-up with Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant in the ranks.

Leadership is another aspect that would have made Azam a great pick in the Capitals team. With Rishabh Pant being a young and experienced captain, Babar, who’s leading Pakistan across formats, could have helped the southpaw in making strategies and on-field decisions.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-189302" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Faheem-Ashraf.jpg" alt="Faheem Ashraf" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-189302" class="wp-caption-text">Faheem Ashraf of Pakistan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Sunrisers Hyderabad had a forgettable time in the now-postponed IPL 2021 as they lost six of their seven games. Although there were many shortcomings in the side, lack of firepower was one of the biggest ones. The middle and lower-order batsmen were failing constantly despite getting magnificent starts from openers.

Hence, someone like Faheem Ashraf would have helped him in this department. The southpaw can accumulate quick runs in end overs with his wide range of shots. Not only that, he’ll constantly bowl his quota of four overs to balance the combination. <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/">SRH</a> </strong>need a player with precisely these abilities and Ashraf fits for the job.

The 27-year-old all-rounder has been a vital part of Pakistan’s T20I team, and his record is also impressive. He strikes at 128.22 in T20Is, and his economy rate after 42 games is just 7.54. Moreover, Ashraf also has a hat-trick in T20Is, and he wouldn’t mind taking one in IPL.

<p>Several cricket fans around the world are waiting for the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. The gala T20 tournament was called off midway after multiple players and staff members tested positive for the widely-spreading COVID-19 virus. With <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/">IPL</a> </strong>being celebrated as one of the best T20 competitions worldwide, the league’s suspension left many cricket lovers disappointed.</p>
<p>The inaugural season of the prominent tournament was played way back in 2008 when T20 was still a baby in the cricket world. However, the 20-over format has taken giant strides over the years, and so has IPL. As a result, T20 stars from all over the globe have been plying their trade in the T20 extravaganza. However, that’s not the case with Pakistani cricketers.</p>
<p>Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar including many Pakistani players featured in the inaugural IPL edition. However, the political tension between the two nations prohibited the participation of Pakistan players in IPL after 2008. Nevertheless, Pakistan has produced many T20 stars over the years who made a mark worldwide. Although these players can’t play IPL, they would certainly have been a force to reckon with if they did.</p>
<h3>Here we’ll look at one Pakistan player who would have fit into each team in IPL 2021</h3>
<h3>1. Punjab Kings – Shaheen Afridi</h3>
<figure id="attachment_352517" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-352517" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-352517" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_358508.jpg" alt="Shaheen Afridi" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-352517" class="wp-caption-text">Shaheen Shah Afridi. (Photo by OLLY GREENWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Punjab Kings lost three of their eight games in the first leg of IPL 2021, and blaming their bowling line-up won’t be wrong. The likes of Mohammed Shami, Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith struggled to contain the run-flow as PBKS ended up on the losing side despite putting a substantial score on the board.</p>
<p>Hence, the KL Rahul-led side badly needs a potent pacer who can deliver in any situation. <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shaheen-shah-afridi-reveals-the-name-of-his-all-time-favorite-pakistan-cricketers/">Shaheen Afridi</a></strong> is one guy, who would have eased this problem. The left-arm arm pacer has been spearheading Pakistan’s pace attack in all three formats, and his record is also phenomenal.</p>
<p>Afridi doesn’t tend to leak many runs, and his happy knack of taking wickets regularly makes him a captain’s delight. Hence, he would have taken a lot of pressure from Shami. Not to forget, the 21-year-old is a left-arm pacer, and his away-going deliveries would have troubled dashers like Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler.</p>
<h3>2. Royal Challengers Bangalore – Mohammad Amir</h3>
<figure id="attachment_469212" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-469212" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-469212" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Amir.jpg" alt="Mohammad Amir" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-469212" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Amir. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Now, this is very much possible! <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-will-discuss-the-problems-he-is-facing-when-we-meet-during-psl-babar-azam-on-mohammad-amirs-premature-retirement/">Mohammad Amir </a></strong>has retired from international cricket and has settled in England. Hence, the left-arm pacer would be eligible to play in IPL after getting British citizenship and a passport. With Amir being one of the finest left-arm fast bowlers going around, a bidding war is likely to take place if the speedster lands in the IPL auction pool.</p>
<p>In that case, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should not worry about breaking the bank. Death bowling has been an eternal problem for the Virat Kohli-led side. While the current squad comprises many talented fast bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Harshal Patel, none of them have a significant amount of experience.</p>
<p>Hence, Amir would be an ideal addition to the side. While the talismanic speedster can swing the new ball, nailing yorkers in death overs isn’t a massive challenge for him. On top of that, Amir and Kohli celebrating animatedly after the fall of a wicket would be a sight to behold for the fans.</p>
<h3>3. Chennai Super Kings – Haris Rauf</h3>
<figure id="attachment_486499" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-486499" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-486499" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Haris-Rauf.jpg" alt="Haris Rauf" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-486499" class="wp-caption-text">Haris Rauf. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Three-time champions Chennai Super Kings enjoyed a stellar campaign in the first half of IPL 2021, winning five of their seven games. Although they ticked almost all their boxes, their fast bowling department looked slightly weak. The likes of Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo and Sam Curran are handy bowlers indeed, but none of them can set the speed gun on fire.</p>
<p>Haris Rauf’s addition would have undoubtedly filled that void in the team. The right-arm fast bowler can bowl at a high pace, and his height helps him extract extra bounce from the surface. If that’s not enough, Rauf also has a bucket of variations in his arsenal, which makes him a potent weapon in the crunch overs.</p>
<p>Notably, Rauf has proved his mettle in tournaments like Pakistan Super League and Big Bash League. Hence, he wouldn’t have found it much challenging to understand the drill of IPL. One should also take the <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/heres-why-ms-dhoni-turned-up-for-a-press-conference-with-the-entire-indian-team-in-2009/">MS Dhoni</a></strong> factor into notice. The CSK skipper is known to bring the best out of bowlers, and his guidance would indeed have helped Rauf.</p>
<h3>4. Rajasthan Royals – Mohammad Hafeez</h3>
<figure id="attachment_403646" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-403646" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-403646" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Hafeez.jpg" alt="Mohammad Hafeez" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-403646" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Hafeez. (Photo by ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammad-hafeez-says-that-he-has-to-open-a-bat-factory-after-fakhar-zamans-comments/">Mohammad Hafeez</a></strong> has certainly aged like fine wine and only seems to get better with time. The veteran batsman has been a mainstay of Pakistan’s T20I batting line-up over the years owing to his excellent understanding of the game. Hafeez can score quick runs in the middle overs without taking too many risks.</p>
<p>Hence, his addition would have bolstered the Rajasthan Royals batting line-up. Their middle-order looked pretty fragile after Ben Stokes got ruled out of the season. Therefore, putting someone like Hafeez at number four would have provided a lot of balance to the team. Although the 40-year-old doesn’t bowl a lot nowadays, he wouldn’t have minded chipping in with a couple of overs if needed.</p>
<p>Notably, Hafeez is not entirely alien to the happenings of IPL. He played eight games for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the inaugural edition. However, he has evolved a lot since that competition, and his inclusion in the auction pool would have ignited a bidding war.</p>
<h3>5. Kolkata Knight Riders – Fakhar Zaman</h3>
<figure id="attachment_506485" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-506485" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-506485" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Fakhar-Zaman-1.jpg" alt="Fakhar Zaman" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-506485" class="wp-caption-text">Fakhar Zaman. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/he-is-the-most-complete-athlete-i-have-seen-team-indias-fielding-coach-heaps-praise-on-shubman-gill/">Shubman Gill</a></strong>, Nitish Rana, and Rahul Tripathi formed Kolkata Knight Riders’ top-order in IPL 2021. These three batsmen are indeed talented, but none have a lot of experience behind their back. Hence, the two-time champions would have been delighted to give the purple and gold jersey to Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman.</p>
<p>Zaman is a dasher who likes to take on the bowlers from the outset. The left-handed batsman also has a wide range of shots which helps him take advantage of the field restrictions. Hence, he would have provided a lot of stability to the batting line-up and eased Gill and Rana’s job.</p>
<p>Not to forget, Zaman has also played T20I at the number three position, and his versatility would have allowed KKR to go with certain combinations. All these factors would have made the dynamic southpaw a formidable addition to KKR’s line-up. Well, who knows, the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise might go all out for Zaman if Pakistan players get the allowance to play in IPL.</p>
<h3>6. Mumbai Indians – Wahab Riaz</h3>
<figure id="attachment_491324" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-491324" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-491324" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Wahab-Riaz.jpg" alt="Wahab Riaz" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-491324" class="wp-caption-text">Wahab Riaz. (Photo by ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Winners of five IPL seasons, Mumbai Indians hardly have any chink in their armour.&nbsp; While dashers Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav have been scoring runs consistently, Jasprit Bumrah, Rahul Chahar, and Trent Boult have been brilliant with the ball in hand. In the all-rounder category, MI has Pandya brothers (Hardik and Krunal) and Kieron Pollard.</p>
<p>Now, there’s barely any room for betterment in this line-up. However, the presence of so many Indian stars allows the Mumbai-based side to add an extra overseas bowler. Pakistan’s <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/psl-2021-was-not-postponed-because-of-me-and-wahab-riaz-daren-sammy/">Wahab Riaz</a></strong> can occupy that position to make MI’s bowling line-up even more intimidating. Riaz can bowl at a high pace, and his vast experience makes him a boon for any team.</p>
<p>It’ll indeed be scary to face Riaz, Bumrah, and Boult in the same match. Hence, the 35-year-old speedster would have been a substantial addition to the Rohit Sharma-led side. Notably, Riaz is also a handy lower-order batsman, and one can check out his sixes against Dale Steyn to verify the fact.</p>
<h3>7. Delhi Capitals – Babar Azam</h3>
<figure id="attachment_501443" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-501443" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-501443" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Babar-Azam-1.jpg" alt="Babar Azam" width="640" height="399" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-501443" class="wp-caption-text">Babar Azam. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>With regular skipper Shreyas Iyer missing the first leg of IPL 2021, Delhi Capitals struggled for a potent number three batsman. Ajinkya Rahane was tried initially but got replaced by Steve Smith after a few failures. The Australian batsman didn’t make a significant impact either. In that situation, DC would have loved the services of <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-feel-proud-hes-one-of-the-best-babar-azam-reacts-to-his-comparison-with-virat-kohli/">Babar Azam</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Azam has been the mainstay of Pakistan’s T20I batting line-up owing to his ability to score consistently at an impressive strike rate. This would have made him an ideal candidate to fill the void in DC’s batting line-up. Moreover, Azam would have played even more freely in Delhi’s line-up with Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant in the ranks.</p>
<p>Leadership is another aspect that would have made Azam a great pick in the Capitals team. With Rishabh Pant being a young and experienced captain, Babar, who’s leading Pakistan across formats, could have helped the southpaw in making strategies and on-field decisions.</p>
<h3>8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Faheem Ashraf</h3>
<figure id="attachment_189302" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-189302" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-189302" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Faheem-Ashraf.jpg" alt="Faheem Ashraf" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-189302" class="wp-caption-text">Faheem Ashraf of Pakistan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad had a forgettable time in the now-postponed IPL 2021 as they lost six of their seven games. Although there were many shortcomings in the side, lack of firepower was one of the biggest ones. The middle and lower-order batsmen were failing constantly despite getting magnificent starts from openers.</p>
<p>Hence, someone like Faheem Ashraf would have helped him in this department. The southpaw can accumulate quick runs in end overs with his wide range of shots. Not only that, he’ll constantly bowl his quota of four overs to balance the combination. <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/">SRH</a> </strong>need a player with precisely these abilities and Ashraf fits for the job.</p>
<p>The 27-year-old all-rounder has been a vital part of Pakistan’s T20I team, and his record is also impressive. He strikes at 128.22 in T20Is, and his economy rate after 42 games is just 7.54. Moreover, Ashraf also has a hat-trick in T20Is, and he wouldn’t mind taking one in IPL.</p>

<p>Several cricket fans around the world are waiting for the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. The gala T20 tournament was called off midway after multiple players and staff members tested positive for the widely-spreading COVID-19 virus. With <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/">IPL</a> </strong>being celebrated as one of the best T20 competitions worldwide, the league&#8217;s suspension left many cricket lovers disappointed.</p>
<p>The inaugural season of the prominent tournament was played way back in 2008 when T20 was still a baby in the cricket world. However, the 20-over format has taken giant strides over the years, and so has IPL. As a result, T20 stars from all over the globe have been plying their trade in the T20 extravaganza. However, that’s not the case with Pakistani cricketers.</p>
<p>Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar including many Pakistani players featured in the inaugural IPL edition. However, the political tension between the two nations prohibited the participation of Pakistan players in IPL after 2008. Nevertheless, Pakistan has produced many T20 stars over the years who made a mark worldwide. Although these players can’t play IPL, they would certainly have been a force to reckon with if they did.</p>
<h3>Here we’ll look at one Pakistan player who would have fit into each team in IPL 2021</h3>
<h3>1. Punjab Kings – Shaheen Afridi</h3>
<figure id="attachment_352517" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-352517" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-352517" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_358508.jpg" alt="Shaheen Afridi" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-352517" class="wp-caption-text">Shaheen Shah Afridi. (Photo by OLLY GREENWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Punjab Kings lost three of their eight games in the first leg of IPL 2021, and blaming their bowling line-up won’t be wrong. The likes of Mohammed Shami, Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith struggled to contain the run-flow as PBKS ended up on the losing side despite putting a substantial score on the board.</p>
<p>Hence, the KL Rahul-led side badly needs a potent pacer who can deliver in any situation. <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shaheen-shah-afridi-reveals-the-name-of-his-all-time-favorite-pakistan-cricketers/">Shaheen Afridi</a></strong> is one guy, who would have eased this problem. The left-arm arm pacer has been spearheading Pakistan’s pace attack in all three formats, and his record is also phenomenal.</p>
<p>Afridi doesn’t tend to leak many runs, and his happy knack of taking wickets regularly makes him a captain’s delight. Hence, he would have taken a lot of pressure from Shami. Not to forget, the 21-year-old is a left-arm pacer, and his away-going deliveries would have troubled dashers like Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler.</p>
<h3>2. Royal Challengers Bangalore – Mohammad Amir</h3>
<figure id="attachment_469212" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-469212" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-469212" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Amir.jpg" alt="Mohammad Amir" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-469212" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Amir. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Now, this is very much possible! <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-will-discuss-the-problems-he-is-facing-when-we-meet-during-psl-babar-azam-on-mohammad-amirs-premature-retirement/">Mohammad Amir </a></strong>has retired from international cricket and has settled in England. Hence, the left-arm pacer would be eligible to play in IPL after getting British citizenship and a passport. With Amir being one of the finest left-arm fast bowlers going around, a bidding war is likely to take place if the speedster lands in the IPL auction pool.</p>
<p>In that case, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should not worry about breaking the bank. Death bowling has been an eternal problem for the Virat Kohli-led side. While the current squad comprises many talented fast bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Harshal Patel, none of them have a significant amount of experience.</p>
<p>Hence, Amir would be an ideal addition to the side. While the talismanic speedster can swing the new ball, nailing yorkers in death overs isn’t a massive challenge for him. On top of that, Amir and Kohli celebrating animatedly after the fall of a wicket would be a sight to behold for the fans.</p>
<h3>3. Chennai Super Kings – Haris Rauf</h3>
<figure id="attachment_486499" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-486499" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-486499" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Haris-Rauf.jpg" alt="Haris Rauf" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-486499" class="wp-caption-text">Haris Rauf. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Three-time champions Chennai Super Kings enjoyed a stellar campaign in the first half of IPL 2021, winning five of their seven games. Although they ticked almost all their boxes, their fast bowling department looked slightly weak. The likes of Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo and Sam Curran are handy bowlers indeed, but none of them can set the speed gun on fire.</p>
<p>Haris Rauf’s addition would have undoubtedly filled that void in the team. The right-arm fast bowler can bowl at a high pace, and his height helps him extract extra bounce from the surface. If that’s not enough, Rauf also has a bucket of variations in his arsenal, which makes him a potent weapon in the crunch overs.</p>
<p>Notably, Rauf has proved his mettle in tournaments like Pakistan Super League and Big Bash League. Hence, he wouldn’t have found it much challenging to understand the drill of IPL. One should also take the <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/heres-why-ms-dhoni-turned-up-for-a-press-conference-with-the-entire-indian-team-in-2009/">MS Dhoni</a></strong> factor into notice. The CSK skipper is known to bring the best out of bowlers, and his guidance would indeed have helped Rauf.</p>
<h3>4. Rajasthan Royals – Mohammad Hafeez</h3>
<figure id="attachment_403646" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-403646" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-403646" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Hafeez.jpg" alt="Mohammad Hafeez" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-403646" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Hafeez. (Photo by ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammad-hafeez-says-that-he-has-to-open-a-bat-factory-after-fakhar-zamans-comments/">Mohammad Hafeez</a></strong> has certainly aged like fine wine and only seems to get better with time. The veteran batsman has been a mainstay of Pakistan’s T20I batting line-up over the years owing to his excellent understanding of the game. Hafeez can score quick runs in the middle overs without taking too many risks.</p>
<p>Hence, his addition would have bolstered the Rajasthan Royals batting line-up. Their middle-order looked pretty fragile after Ben Stokes got ruled out of the season. Therefore, putting someone like Hafeez at number four would have provided a lot of balance to the team. Although the 40-year-old doesn’t bowl a lot nowadays, he wouldn’t have minded chipping in with a couple of overs if needed.</p>
<p>Notably, Hafeez is not entirely alien to the happenings of IPL. He played eight games for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the inaugural edition. However, he has evolved a lot since that competition, and his inclusion in the auction pool would have ignited a bidding war.</p>
<h3>5. Kolkata Knight Riders – Fakhar Zaman</h3>
<figure id="attachment_506485" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-506485" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-506485" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Fakhar-Zaman-1.jpg" alt="Fakhar Zaman" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-506485" class="wp-caption-text">Fakhar Zaman. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/he-is-the-most-complete-athlete-i-have-seen-team-indias-fielding-coach-heaps-praise-on-shubman-gill/">Shubman Gill</a></strong>, Nitish Rana, and Rahul Tripathi formed Kolkata Knight Riders’ top-order in IPL 2021. These three batsmen are indeed talented, but none have a lot of experience behind their back. Hence, the two-time champions would have been delighted to give the purple and gold jersey to Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman.</p>
<p>Zaman is a dasher who likes to take on the bowlers from the outset. The left-handed batsman also has a wide range of shots which helps him take advantage of the field restrictions. Hence, he would have provided a lot of stability to the batting line-up and eased Gill and Rana’s job.</p>
<p>Not to forget, Zaman has also played T20I at the number three position, and his versatility would have allowed KKR to go with certain combinations. All these factors would have made the dynamic southpaw a formidable addition to KKR’s line-up. Well, who knows, the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise might go all out for Zaman if Pakistan players get the allowance to play in IPL.</p>
<h3>6. Mumbai Indians – Wahab Riaz</h3>
<figure id="attachment_491324" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-491324" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-491324" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Wahab-Riaz.jpg" alt="Wahab Riaz" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-491324" class="wp-caption-text">Wahab Riaz. (Photo by ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Winners of five IPL seasons, Mumbai Indians hardly have any chink in their armour.  While dashers Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav have been scoring runs consistently, Jasprit Bumrah, Rahul Chahar, and Trent Boult have been brilliant with the ball in hand. In the all-rounder category, MI has Pandya brothers (Hardik and Krunal) and Kieron Pollard.</p>
<p>Now, there’s barely any room for betterment in this line-up. However, the presence of so many Indian stars allows the Mumbai-based side to add an extra overseas bowler. Pakistan’s <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/psl-2021-was-not-postponed-because-of-me-and-wahab-riaz-daren-sammy/">Wahab Riaz</a></strong> can occupy that position to make MI’s bowling line-up even more intimidating. Riaz can bowl at a high pace, and his vast experience makes him a boon for any team.</p>
<p>It’ll indeed be scary to face Riaz, Bumrah, and Boult in the same match. Hence, the 35-year-old speedster would have been a substantial addition to the Rohit Sharma-led side. Notably, Riaz is also a handy lower-order batsman, and one can check out his sixes against Dale Steyn to verify the fact.</p>
<h3>7. Delhi Capitals – Babar Azam</h3>
<figure id="attachment_501443" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-501443" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-501443" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Babar-Azam-1.jpg" alt="Babar Azam" width="640" height="399" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-501443" class="wp-caption-text">Babar Azam. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>With regular skipper Shreyas Iyer missing the first leg of IPL 2021, Delhi Capitals struggled for a potent number three batsman. Ajinkya Rahane was tried initially but got replaced by Steve Smith after a few failures. The Australian batsman didn’t make a significant impact either. In that situation, DC would have loved the services of <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-feel-proud-hes-one-of-the-best-babar-azam-reacts-to-his-comparison-with-virat-kohli/">Babar Azam</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Azam has been the mainstay of Pakistan’s T20I batting line-up owing to his ability to score consistently at an impressive strike rate. This would have made him an ideal candidate to fill the void in DC’s batting line-up. Moreover, Azam would have played even more freely in Delhi’s line-up with Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant in the ranks.</p>
<p>Leadership is another aspect that would have made Azam a great pick in the Capitals team. With Rishabh Pant being a young and experienced captain, Babar, who’s leading Pakistan across formats, could have helped the southpaw in making strategies and on-field decisions.</p>
<h3>8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Faheem Ashraf</h3>
<figure id="attachment_189302" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-189302" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-189302" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Faheem-Ashraf.jpg" alt="Faheem Ashraf" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-189302" class="wp-caption-text">Faheem Ashraf of Pakistan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad had a forgettable time in the now-postponed IPL 2021 as they lost six of their seven games. Although there were many shortcomings in the side, lack of firepower was one of the biggest ones. The middle and lower-order batsmen were failing constantly despite getting magnificent starts from openers.</p>
<p>Hence, someone like Faheem Ashraf would have helped him in this department. The southpaw can accumulate quick runs in end overs with his wide range of shots. Not only that, he’ll constantly bowl his quota of four overs to balance the combination. <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/">SRH</a> </strong>need a player with precisely these abilities and Ashraf fits for the job.</p>
<p>The 27-year-old all-rounder has been a vital part of Pakistan’s T20I team, and his record is also impressive. He strikes at 128.22 in T20Is, and his economy rate after 42 games is just 7.54. Moreover, Ashraf also has a hat-trick in T20Is, and he wouldn’t mind taking one in IPL.</p>

Pakistan cricketers haven't featured in IPL after the inaugural season in 2008.

One Pakistan cricketer who can perfectly fit in each IPL team

From Babar Azam to Shaheen Afridi, many Pakistan players would have made a significant mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL).