You& #39;ve hopefully read @jonathanliew& #39;s brilliant article on the silence re Pakistanis in the IPL. (https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏻" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten (heller Hautton)">)

I& #39;ve been digging into this the last few weeks. Spoke to the PCB. (Tried) to speak to the BCCI.

With next year& #39;s IPL <6 months away, here& #39;s why... 1/n https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/oct/26/ecb-global-silence-pakistan-ipl-exile">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blo...

...it& #39;s in everyone& #39;s interests - PCB, BCCI, ECB, ICC, cricket fans, players - to include Pakistan players in the IPL for first time in 13 yrs. Not just ECB who must break their silence.

(Also nuts that we& #39;re all so vocally anti-discrimination rnow & yet silent on this.) 2/n

1. IPL 2021 will be in the UAE. A frequent reason (/excuse?) apparently cited by franchises not to pick Pakistanis is uncertainty of getting a Indian visas, plus security issues & costs.

Last year& #39;s auction was too early to contemplate being outside India; this year& #39;s won& #39;t. 3/n

The UAE is an autonomous country, grants its own visas & has a high migrant Pakistani population. Visa issues vanish.

2. It& #39;s also home advantage. Pakistan have played 31 T20Is in UAE in last decade - so 31 more than India. Pakistanis know these grounds. Use that knowledge. 4/n

3. The last time they played in the tournament, a Pakistani was leading wicket-taker, was in the team crowned inaugural champs & even hit the winning runs. Great to watch.

The IPL holds itself out as the premier T20 tournament in the world. Not without Pakistan& #39;s players. 5/n

4. Everyone loves a villain (bear with me). Even if you want to just clutch at the entertainment narrative, we all know what the Indo-Pak rivalry does to viewing figures/fan engagement at ICC events.

Take advantage. What broadcaster/sponsor doesn& #39;t want more eyeballs? 6/n

5. Inequality. Not just talking towards Pakistan. IPL is a global tournament in all but name, the only domestic event to be ring-fenced by ICC so no interntl fixtures held.

CSA& #39;s CEO: "If they play the IPL in that window, then it blocks out bilateral cricket anyway."

So... 7/n

...heightened corruption risk. You& #39;ve got one country missing out, on coverage, on game play & on money. Bilateral interntl fixtures being postponed/cancelled. Pakistan& #39;s internatnls amongst poorest paid in world cricket anyway. IPL exacerbates that. Hello lucrative spot-fix. 8/n

Many reasons we& #39;re in this situ, & PCB can& #39;t be absolved (hasty withdrawals/harsh NOC conditions/rhetoric). But it *is* in all interests to speak. Silence is deafening.

Anyway, I& #39;ve got a lot to say, so read next month& #39;s issue of @TheCricketerMag for a long read on it all. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋🏻" title="Waving hand (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand (heller Hautton)">