The sixteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) recently came to end with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) registering a thrilling last-ball win over the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the final to claim their fifth title. The tournament is widely regarded as the best franchise cricket competition in the world with several of the world's best rubbing shoulders with each other as well as the domestic Indian talent. Unfortunately though Pakistan players were only allowed to compete in the league in the inaugural season in 2008 and post that owing to the strained political relationship between the two countries, Pakistan players haven't been allowed to feature in the tournament.
Former cricketers Tom Moody and Sanjay Manjrekar though were discussing Pakistan players who would have successfuly secured IPL deals in an ideal world. While Moody had no doubts in his mind that the Men in Green speedster Shaheen Afridi would emerge as one of the top picks, he chose Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan as other players who could have fetched a hefty paycheque at the auctions.
"Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Rizwan and Shadab Khan. They have got a number of terrific players, particularly in this format of the game. Shaheen would be your No.1 pick, he would be box office," Moody said on ESPNcricinfo.
Manjrekar, meanwhile, reckoned IPL teams might also target somebody like a Haris Rauf who could be a useful option at the death. He even picked Fakhar Zaman as someone who could have been in the franchise's radar if Pak stars were allowed to compete in this tournament.
"One of the best death bowlers, Haris Rauf," Manjrekar said.
"I think about their bowlers more than their batters. But Fakhar Zaman would be an interesting choice in certain teams," Manjrekar said.
"Rizwan is somebody who plays the anchor’s role. Sometimes, I tend to get worried when Babar and Rizwan bat together," he added.