The KPL 2021 will run from August 6 to 17. The competition has six teams – Mirpur Royals, Overseas Warriors, Rawalakot Hawks, Kotli Lions, Muzaffarabad Tigers and Bagh Stallions – and will be hosted in Muzaffarabad.
“Kashmir Premier League will go ahead as planned,” Taimoor said in a media statement. “In case some foreign players cannot participate due to pressure then we will include Pakistan players who weren’t picked in the draft.”
The uproar over overseas players’ participation in KPL 2021 started early on Saturday when former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs accused the BCCI of pressurising him to pull out of the event due to India’s strained political relationship with Pakistan.
“Completely unnecessary of the BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me playing in the KPL,” Gibbs tweeted. “[They are] also threatening me saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket related work. Ludicrous.”
Having stated that the KPL would increase the Pakistani representation in the competition if overseas stars are not available, Taimoor said it would be sad if the local cricketers don’t get the chance to rub shoulders with some of the prominent names from abroad.
“It will be sad if local Kashmir players won’t be able to play alongside top foreign players and if they can’t share the dressing room with them. We are monitoring the situation from our channels (regarding foreign players),” he added.
The KPL 2021, which has clearance from the Pakistan government and is approved by the Pakistan Cricket Board, will see the mingling of multiple ex-cricketers from abroad with some of the contemporary Pakistan players.
Apart from Gibbs, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tino Best, Albie Morkel, Rory Kleinveldt, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, Phil Mustard and Chris Tremlett are also named in the tournament’s overseas roster.
