Kamran: Wistful, frustrated and playing in a lesser league

Kamran Akmal struggles to take his gaze away from the giant hoarding near the Al Maktoum Bridge in Dubai. Virat Kohli’s larger than life portrait, advertising a fairness cream, leaps out of it.

Kamran Akmal struggles to take his gaze away from the giant hoarding near the Al Maktoum Bridge in Dubai. Virat Kohli’s larger than life portrait, advertising a fairness cream, leaps out of it.

The timing of the hoardings being erected across Dubai is a no-brainer. There are many such hoardings featuring captains of each IPL franchise, lined up close to each other. But for the Pakistan ‘keeper, they serve as a reminder of his time with Rajasthan Royals. He turns a touch nostalgic too. The strained relationship between India and Pakistan following the 2008 terror strikes in Mumbai prompted the IPL franchises to keep out Pakistani players. That has only meant prolonged frustration at not being a part of the richest league, that too next door.

It has been six years now, but for Kamran, in Dubai these days to play in a local T20 tournament, the hoarding reminds him of what he is missing. Many of his Pakistan team mates —Younis Khan, Naseer Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, and out-of-favour Imran Nazir — are also in Dubai to play in the less fancied tournament.

The matches are played at the ICC cricket academy, barely two kilometres from the Dubai International cricket stadium where the IPL matches are being played. While keeping at one end, Kamran can see the stadium, imposing and brightly lit up in the evening. He can perhaps feel the reverberation too, caused by the boisterous fans, most of expats.

The hurt of Pakistan players still being kept out of IPL, and the desire to play in it, comes across as he fires in his questions. “What will it take and how long will it take for the IPL to start considering Pakistan players again?” “Is it government policy or IPL policy?” “Why have Sri Lanka players not been picked (this time)?”

“How can it be a truly global cricket league without the presence of Pakistani, Sri Lankan and English players?” One is not sure who can provide answers to the barrage of questions, and when.