Will GOI allow 'British Pakistani' cricketer Moeen Ali to feature in this year's IPL?

[Rana]

The Indian Government have been very busy in not providing visa's to Pakistani sportsmen and International sportsmen with Pakistani heritage. As reported in our Time Pass thread,

"The Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) has cancelled the Indian leg of the Asian Tour 10 Reds Snooker tournament due to concerns over the possible refusal of visas to Pakistani and Pakistan-origin participants in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack."

Similarly, it has been reported that the ECB had to replace British Pakistani cricketer Saqib Mahmood with Tom Bailey as the ECB struggled to negotiate a Visa for Saqib due to the current situation for their England Lions limited overs tour of India.

The question that is now being asked is in regards to one of the most established all-rounders in world cricket who has been retained by the powerhouse franchise RCB. Will the GOI/BCCI also adopt a similar stance as it is currently doing so?

Thoughts?

 

[Bewal Express]

The Indian Government have been very busy in not providing visa's to Pakistani sportsmen and International sportsmen with Pakistani heritage. As reported in our Time Pass thread,

"The Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) has cancelled the Indian leg of the Asian Tour 10 Reds Snooker tournament due to concerns over the possible refusal of visas to Pakistani and Pakistan-origin participants in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack."

Similarly, it has been reported that the ECB had to replace British Pakistani cricketer Saqib Mahmood with Tom Bailey as the ECB struggled to negotiate a Visa for Saqib due to the current situation.

The question that is now being asked is in regards to one of the most established all-rounders in world cricket who has been retained by the powerhouse franchise RCB. Will the GOI/BCCI also adopt a similar stance as it is currently doing so?

Thoughts?

Off course they will, they will look totally stupid if they don't. Remember that the racist Apartheid regime was isolated after Basil D'oliveira for 21 years. The Indians won't dare.

 

[Benchwarmer]

It is easier to do the background check of a well-known player and verify their credentials so yeah he will get a visa and play in the IPL even though it will only be for few matches

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Ali is just British, he has Pakistani ancestry but he is not Pakistani.

 

[Hasan123]

Shouldn't be an issue. It hasn't even been mentioned so I think he will be allowed to play in the IPL.

 

[silentkiller187]

Azhar Mahmood played in the IPL a long time after pak players were banned, don't see any issues here, some of the afghan players picked probably grew up more in Pakistan than Moeen

 

[Sherlock]

Ali is just British, he has Pakistani ancestry but he is not Pakistani.

He's British Pakistani. That's what we put down as a nationality on governmental forms, as do British Indians/Sikhs etc.

He calls himself a British born Pakistani too.

 

[j_kazmi]

Azhar Mahmood played in the IPL a long time after pak players were banned, don't see any issues here, some of the afghan players picked probably grew up more in Pakistan than Moeen

I rememeber that being so odd. Pakistani players are banned in the IPL and this guy just gets a British passport and plays in the IPL like normal and nobody batted an eye.

No one in the Indian side took no notice of it and nobody in the Pakistani side had problem with it.

This is some one who’s played more than 150 matches for Pakistan and no one questioned him. Just because he could’ve played in the IPL through this loophole didn’t mean he should’ve in my view.

Him and all these Pakistani pundits that worked in the IPL should’ve taken a stand against them because how can they go and participate in the IPL when they were openly discriminating against our country’s players. They totally disregarded the country’s respect.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Highly unlikely.

The Netherlands are currently on a tour of India playing state sides. They have two Pakistani descended twins, the Zulfiqars, in their squad.

They had to be replaced because of lengthy and ongoing, and likely intended, delays in acquiring visas. The father of these two guys is a Dutch citizen who'd been living in Europe for over thirty years. Lets also not forget that Oman, who had been invited to an Emerging Sides competition in India, had to pull out because, again, visa issues.

Its becoming quite apparent that India does not want any athletes, even non Pakistani citizens, of Pakistani descent playing there, which is petty, pathetic and is bound to garner them significant negative press if it isnt lifted.

 

[barah_admi]

India is a joke. Who cares what they allow or do not allow? Their ridiculous league felt Joe Root, who outbatted KOhli the last time the two collided, was not good enough for the IPL. Go figure.

 

[Adijazz1706]

Unlikely to play, Saqib Mehmood who's a British born Pakistani was not allowed to play for the England lions on their current India tour. The IOX and Snooker bodies have already scrapped the India legs of their tournaments and other sports bodies are expected to follow suit

 

[Ami]

haha classic.
Not a bad thread...
Doesnt matter about his nationality...its his Pak background which is the sticking point.
I know several British Pakistanis who couldnt get a visa for a holiday in India brcause of their Pak background.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I would worry about Mo's safety if he played the IPL.

 

[Bilal7]

If the BCCI even think about blocking Moeen from coming to India, it will be a PR nightmare. The ECB won't turn a blind-eye to discrimination when it happens to one of their own. What about Imran Tahir, Adil Rashid, Sikander Raza and the other players with Pakistani heritage? Are they playing the tamasha league this year?

Ali is just British, he has Pakistani ancestry but he is not Pakistani.

This. He's British and unlike those fake British Indians who boo their own players, he's not a fake Briton either.

 

[King-Misbah]

Ali is just British, he has Pakistani ancestry but he is not Pakistani.

His father is British Pakistani (Kashmiri) and mother is white native British I believe.

 

[Bilal7]

His father is British Pakistani (Kashmiri) and mother is white native British I believe.

His grandmother is White, not his mother.