Pakistani Cricketers Who Have Played in the IPL: The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most exciting and lucrative cricket tournaments in the world, attracting top players from all over the globe. However, despite the IPL’s global reach and popularity, one group of cricketers has been conspicuously absent from the league since its inception—Pakistani players. Due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, the participation of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL has been limited. Still, there have been a few notable exceptions during the early years of the league.

Pakistani Cricketers Who Have Played in the IPL

Here’s a look at the Pakistani cricketers who have played in the IPL, their impact on the tournament, and why their participation has been so limited in recent years.

1. Shahid Afridi (Deccan Chargers – IPL 2008)

One of Pakistan’s most charismatic and explosive cricketers, Shahid Afridi, was part of the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008. Afridi, known for his hard-hitting batting and handy leg-spin bowling, joined the Deccan Chargers franchise, which was captained by Adam Gilchrist. Though Afridi played a limited role in the 2008 season, his mere presence in the tournament generated significant buzz, both in India and Pakistan.

Afridi’s IPL stint didn’t last long, and he did not play in the following seasons. However, his participation in the inaugural year marked the first—and, until now, the last—time a Pakistani cricketer appeared in the IPL. Afridi was later involved in various international leagues but never returned to the IPL due to the political tensions between the two countries.

Batting & Fielding

Format	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS
Tests	27	48	1	1716	156
ODIs	398	369	27	8064	124
T20Is	99	91	12	1416	54*
FC	113	185	4	5695	164
List A	501	467	31	10881	124
T20s	329	279	38	4399	101

2. Shoaib Malik (Delhi Daredevils – IPL 2008)

Shoaib Malik, a talented all-rounder and former captain of Pakistan, was another Pakistani cricketer to play in the IPL’s first season in 2008. Malik was picked by the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) for the tournament. His all-around skills—batting, bowling, and fielding—made him a valuable asset to any team. However, Malik’s IPL career was relatively short-lived, as he played just one season before the political and security issues led to his exclusion from the tournament.

After the 2008 season, Malik’s IPL journey ended prematurely due to the growing tensions between India and Pakistan. However, he continued to play in various other T20 leagues around the world, gaining recognition for his leadership skills and consistency with the bat.

Batting & Fielding

Format	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS
Tests	35	60	6	1898	245
ODIs	287	258	40	7534	143
T20Is	124	111	33	2435	75
FC	126	197	21	6559	245
List A	405	357	60	11447	143
T20s	542	503	136	13360	95*

3. Umar Gul (Kolkata Knight Riders – IPL 2009)

Umar Gul, one of Pakistan’s finest fast bowlers and a star performer in T20 internationals, had a brief but impactful stint in the IPL. He played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2009 season, under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. Gul was one of the best death bowlers in the world at the time and was expected to be a key player for his franchise.

However, like many other Pakistani players, Gul was excluded from subsequent IPL seasons due to the rising political tensions between India and Pakistan. His 2009 appearance remains the last time he played in the IPL. Despite this, Gul continued to play for Pakistan in international cricket and remained an important figure in the T20 format for several years.

Bowling

Format	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts
Tests	47	90	9599	5553	163
ODIs	130	128	6064	5253	179
T20Is	60	60	1203	1443	85
FC	125	–	22134	12232	479
List A	213	–	10033	8647	286
T20s	167	166	3508	4477	222

4. Mohammad Asif (Delhi Daredevils – IPL 2008)

Mohammad Asif, a talented fast bowler known for his swing and accuracy, was also part of the inaugural IPL season in 2008, playing for the Delhi Daredevils. Asif, who had established himself as one of the best bowlers in world cricket, was expected to be a key player in the IPL. He impressed with his skill and ability to bowl at both the start and the end of innings.

Unfortunately, Asif’s career in the IPL was marred by a spot-fixing scandal in 2010, leading to his eventual suspension from cricket. While his IPL career was brief, Asif’s skills were never in question, and he continued to play for Pakistan until his involvement in the infamous scandal ended his international career prematurely.

Bowling

Format	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts
Tests	23	44	5171	2583	106
ODIs	38	36	1941	1524	46
T20Is	11	11	257	343	13
FC	103	–	19495	10190	441
List A	86	–	4044	3127	95
T20s	35	35	832	1058	50

5. Younis Khan (Unsuccessful Bid – IPL 2008)

While Younis Khan, Pakistan’s former captain and one of the country’s most respected batsmen, never played in the IPL, it’s worth noting that he was part of the conversation during the early years of the league. In 2008, Younis was reportedly on the radar of several IPL franchises but was not selected, largely due to the political climate surrounding Pakistani cricketers at the time.

Although he was a highly skilled batsman with immense experience in international cricket, Khan’s lack of IPL experience reflects the broader exclusion of Pakistani players from the tournament due to political reasons.

Batting & Fielding

Format	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	Ave
Tests	118	213	19	10099	52.05
ODIs	265	255	23	7249	31.24
T20Is	25	23	3	442	22.10
FC	229	385	42	17116	49.90
List A	351	331	36	9911	33.59
T20s	83	78	17	1864	30.55

6. The IPL Ban and Subsequent Exclusion of Pakistani Players

Following the 2008 season, Pakistani cricketers were not included in the IPL, primarily due to the strained diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan. The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, attributed to Pakistan-based militants, led to an official suspension of bilateral cricketing ties between the two countries. As a result, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to include any Pakistani cricketers in the IPL from 2009 onward.

This decision was a significant blow to Pakistani players, many of whom were highly talented and had the potential to excel in the IPL. The exclusion lasted for years, and despite the fact that other foreign players from politically sensitive nations, such as Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, were allowed to participate, Pakistani cricketers continued to be sidelined.

7. The Potential for Future Participation

In recent years, there have been occasional talks about resuming cricketing ties between India and Pakistan, but the situation remains politically complex. The absence of Pakistani players in the IPL continues to be a point of frustration for many fans and players alike. The rise of Pakistan Super League (PSL), a domestic T20 league in Pakistan, has provided a platform for Pakistani cricketers, but the allure of the IPL, with its massive global audience and financial rewards, remains unmatched.

While there has been no official statement regarding the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in future IPL seasons, the growing popularity of T20 leagues worldwide and the possibility of improved political relations between India and Pakistan could pave the way for Pakistani players to return to the IPL in the future.

The participation of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL has been limited to just the first season in 2008, with a handful of notable players like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul, and Mohammad Asif making brief appearances. Political tensions between India and Pakistan have kept Pakistani players away from the IPL for over a decade, despite their immense talent and appeal to global audiences. Whether or not this will change in the future remains uncertain, but the exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from the IPL has undoubtedly been one of the most striking features of the league’s history.