Lalit Modi, the mastermind behind the IPL’s global success, has opened up about why Pakistani players have been excluded from the tournament. He attributed this to the extensive political interference within the Pakistan Cricket Board, which has hindered any chances of their participation.
Initially, Pakistani cricketers were part of the IPL, but following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the BCCI decided to ban them from the league due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Modi expressed his belief that if the PCB had operated independently, a resolution could have been reached, but political influence within the board has made the situation more complex.
Modi highlighted the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan as a major obstacle in resolving the issue, stating that the PCB’s politicization is unlikely to improve in the near future. He also warned against Bangladesh repeating the same mistakes that have plagued the PCB, referencing their exclusion from the 2026 T20 World Cup due to similar issues.
In a podcast with Michael Vaughan, Modi emphasized that the current political landscape makes it challenging to find a solution and urged for a depoliticized approach to cricketing relations between the two nations.
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