With the Indian Premier League just days away from its commencement, fans in Pakistan are dreaming of seeing their top players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi feature in the Indian T20 league. While Pakistani cricketers are banned from participating in the IPL, certain fans continue to dream of the directive changing in the future, allowing players from across the border to play in the IPL too. On Friday, however, former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh shattered one such dream of a fan.
In a tweet, the fan wrote that he wishes to see Babar Azam and Virat Kohli playing for RCB, Shaheen Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah at Mumbai Indians, and Mohammad Rizwan and MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings.
“Dream for many Indian and Pakistani cricket fans…. #PSL2024 #IPL2024 #INDvENG #ViratKohli #BabarAzamZ @avinasharyan09 @harbhajan_singh @mufaddal_vohra,” the tweet from the fan read.
In reply, Harbhajan Singh wrote: “No indian hv such dreams .. you guys plz stop dreaming wake up now”.
As for the new season, Royal Challengers Bangalore began their pre-tournament camp without their numero uno Virat Kohli, who might take a few more days to join before the team starts its IPL campaign against reigning champions Chennai Super Kings on March 22.
Most of the domestic players joined the camp under the guidance of new head coach Andy Flower and Director of Cricket Mo Bobat and they went through the paces on the opening day of the camp on Wednesday.
While skipper Faf du Plessis was in attendance along with West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, Kohli, easily the biggest ‘Box Office’ in Indian cricket, is yet to hit the straps after a paternity break that ruled him out of the marquee five-Test series against England.
“Kohli is expected to join in the next few days,” a BCCI source, who is tracking developments within IPL teams, told PTI.
Kohli might make his first appearance for the franchise during ‘RCB Unbox’, a high-profile annual event held at the Garden City in which fans get a glimpse of their favourite stars.
