Indian Premier League (IPL) is arguably the biggest franchise-based T20 league going around but some fine talents from Pakistan have not been part of the high-octane action over the years. Former Pakistan cricketers, including Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar, were part of the IPL in the inaugural edition of the tournament but the cross-border tension between the two countries led to the sidelining of Pakistan cricketers from the cash-rich league in India.

The idea of the current generation of Pakistan cricketers featuring in the IPL has often received mixed reactions. The likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi have the possibility of finding takers if they are part of an IPL auction.

Even as the cricket world watched the IPL 2022 mega auction in awe as 10 teams were involved in bidding wars for some of the best talents across the globe, a Pakistan journalist invited criticism for making a tall claim about Shaheen Afridi.

A Pakistani journalist took to social media and claimed that the highly-rated left-arm pacer from Pakistan would have got Rs 200 crore bid had he been part of the IPL mega auction. While the journalist achieved his aim of attracting attention, cricket fans laughed off the claim.

Shaheen Afridi has emerged as one the finest pacers going around across all formats of the game. The 21-year-old left-arm pacer played an influential role in Pakistan reaching the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in 2021. Afridi broke the back of India’s top order, removing Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and then captain Virat Kohli in his fiery spell in the powerplay.

Shaheen Afridi also received the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Award for 2021 for his stunning rise to the top of the bowling charts in world cricket. He took 78 wickets in 36 internationals at an average of 22.20 in 2021. In the Test format, Afridi remained consistent and claimed 47 wickets in only nine matches at a staggering average of 17.06.