Australia will be touring Pakistan for the first time since 1998 for three Tests, 3 ODIs and one T20I.
Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wished their respective Australian players luck for their upcoming tour to Pakistan. Due to their national commitments during the Pakistan tour, a number of Australian players will be unavailable for the start of the IPL 2022.
DC, that bought David Warner and Mitchell Marsh in the IPL auction earlier this month, wrote, “David Warner, Tests. Mitchell Marsh, All formats. Our Australian boys are ready for a historic tour of Pakistan. Can't wait to see them in action.”
KKR, meanwhile, wished luck to the side's Test captain Pat Cummins, whom they brought back in the auction.
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Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria praised the IPL teams' "gesture" in response to the remarks.
“The IPL franchises showed a gesture regarding their Australian players in Pakistan. They wished them all the best for the iconic Australia tour of Pakistan. There's nothing wrong there. India has always been there to support their players,” Kaneria said on his official YouTube channel.
Kaneria went on to say that the IPL is the "biggest league" in the world and that despite the fact that certain parts of the Pakistan cricket community blame India anytime players or teams refuse to travel the country, India has continued to show such gestures.
“IPL is the biggest league in the world. There's nothing bigger than that and nothing can even come close. The people affiliated with IPL are some of the most respected ones in cricket,” said Kaneria.
“Every time, when a team leaves Pakistan, some people blame India. If a player opts out of a tour, the blame shifts to India. Anything wrong happens, it is blamed on India. But there's no reaction from there. The gesture that IPL franchises showed to their players was immense.”