Banned from IPL, backed by Indian owners in other leagues: Will Haris Rauf, Azam Khan & Muhammad Wasim fall victim to Indo-Pak Tensions?

[BouncerGuy]

Despite being banned from the IPL, Pakistan’s top cricketers—Haris Rauf, Azam Khan, and Pakistan-origin batter Muhammad Wasim—continue to play under Indian ownership in various international leagues.

Azam Khan represents Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), a franchise owned by the Rajasthan Royals' owners. Haris Rauf plays for the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC) in the U.S., a team backed by Indian businessmen Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan. Meanwhile, Muhammad Wasim turns out for Mukesh Ambani's MI Emirates in the ILT20 league, joined by Pakistan-origin players Muhammad Rohid Khan and Zahoor Khan from the UAE.

With cricket often caught in the crossfire of Indo-Pak tensions, will their association with Indian-owned teams invite controversy?

 

[Bhaijaan]

I don’t think it will happen. It’s strictly business and they have been picked for the value they add.

 

[BouncerGuy]

I don’t think it will happen. It’s strictly business and they have been picked for the value they add.

But do you think that if it happens in the future, it is because of India pakistan political tensions?

 

[Bhaijaan]

But do you think that if it happens in the future, it is because of India pakistan political tensions?

I will be surprised if it happens outside India. It is true that love is dead between our countries and we are at war. But unless the players themselves do something crazy like posting Anti India stuff on social media and all, I don’t think owners will have a problem.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

No. They will play

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

From what I recall, the owner of the San Francisco Unicorns is an Indian-American Silicon Valley investor/entrepreneur. He's not Indian like the IPL owners. He was the owner when they picked Haris Rauf in the draft too.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Also I think you are confusing Muhammad Waseem with Mohammad Wasim Jr. One is a batsman who plays for UAE and MI Emirates. The other is a Pakistani fast-bowler who has never played in the IL20.

 

[Greenstorm]

The less our fast bowlers play these use leagues, the better.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Also I think you are confusing Muhammad Waseem with Mohammad Wasim Jr. One is a batsman who plays for UAE and MI Emirates. The other is a Pakistani fast-bowler who has never played in the IL20.

This is the same Muhammad Wasim from the UAE. He is also a Pakistan-origin player. There are many others out there as well... It is about all of them.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

This is the same Muhammad Wasim from the UAE. He is also a Pakistan-origin player. There are many others out there as well... It is about all of them.

He has already played an won a season for MI Emirates. He was man of the tournament. There are numerous other Pakistani-origin players in MLC teams aswell who have moved to the US.

 

[BouncerGuy]

He has already played an won a season for MI Emirates. He was man of the tournament. There are numerous other Pakistani-origin players in MLC teams aswell who have moved to the US.

But there was no war before that... I am talking about current scenerio... Although I think, things might not change that much.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

But there was no war before that... I am talking about current scenerio... Although I think, things might not change that much.

They are not Pakistani anymore, therefore they are not subject to the same scrutiny. If you take out Pakistani players from the MLC you would be taking out like 30% of the talent pool.

 

[PakFan2010]

Azam Khan is rubbish.