Strained Indo-Pak relations force Wasim to skip IPL

KARACHI: Wasim Akram seems to have become the latest victim of the strained relations between Pakistan and India.

The former Pakistan captain, who has been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders for the last six years, will not be the bowling coach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise for the T20 league’s 2017 season.

Officially, it has been claimed that the former Pakistan legend has decided against continuing as KKR’s bowling coach because of some professional commitments and time constraint.

However, ‘The News’ has learnt through reliable sources that Wasim’s association with KKR had to be severed because of India’s hostile stance towards Pakistan.

In recent times, India has blocked the participation of Pakistani teams in international events. The ongoing Junior Hockey World Cup in the Indian city of Lucknow doesn’t feature Pakistan because the Indians didn’t issue visas to the green-shirts. Earlier, India also blocked Pakistan’s participation in the Kabaddi World Cup.

“Wasim’s decision to skip next year’s IPL is continuation of the same story,” said a source.

Agencies add: Wasim will not be the Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach for the 2017 IPL season because of “professional commitments and time constraints.”

“We will miss Wasim bhai who has been part of the KKR family over the last few years and has played a significant role in our title triumphs in 2012 and 2014,” Venky Mysore, managing director and CEO of KKR, said. “We wish him the very best in all his endeavours.”

Wasim said he would miss being a part of the team. “I have loved the camaraderie in the KKR team and have enjoyed every opportunity to mentor the highly talented team over the years,” he said.

“I am surely going to miss being part of the dressing room but I wish the team continued success.”

Wasim, who turned 50 in June, was a member of the KKR coaching staff since 2010. He had previously taken a break from the IPL in 2013 in order to spend more time with his family.

The tenth season of the IPL begins on April 5 next year.