Pakistani cricketers are not allowed to take part in the IPL.
Speaking on a podcast with Nadir Ali, Tanvir said that Indian cricket fans have always been fond of Pakistani cricketers and keeping in mind the record of both players, either one of them could have become the costliest buy in the auctions. He also picked Mohammad Rizwan to fetch a hefty sum at the IPL auction.
"Agar Pakistan k players IPL m chale jaate hai to pure India ki najre Pakistan k players k upar hongi. Aawam ki bhi aur cricketers ki bhi. Isme koi dohraye hai he nahi ki hamare cricketers ko vo bahut like karte hai. Aur vo dekhna bhi chahte hai. Lekin bss vo politics ki wajeh se hamare players waha nahi ja pa rahe (If Pakistani players go to IPL, then all eyes, be it of the players or of public, will be on them. There's no doubt that they like our players and want to see us as well. It's just that, due to politics, our players can't go there)," Tanvir stated.
In the inaugural edition of IPL, the likes of Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik among others featured in the IPL.
However, Pakistani players were barred from the 2009 edition onwards after it was revealed that the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai was carried out by terrorists from Pakistan.
The interviewer went on to ask Tanvir, "Agar paiso m bhi baat ki jaye toh Babar sabse mahenga bikega? (If we talk about money then will Babar be the most expensive?)"
In reply, the ex-Pakistan player said: "Bilkul. Babar ho gaya aur Shaheen ho gaya. Aur Rizwan bhi. Ye teen players aise hai ki ye kaafi paiso m bikenge. Mujhe aisa lgta hai ki agar ye teeno players IPL m jaaye naa, jis season m, us season m in teeno m se sabse mahenga ek player hoga koi bhi. Rizwan ko shayad mai naa bolu, Shaheen aur Babar mai se koi hoga sbse jyada mahenga player (Definitely, Babar, Shaheen and Rizwan. These three will get picked for the big bucks. I think if these three enter the IPL auction in one season, one of them will be the most expensive ever. May be not Rizwan, but definitely one of Babar and Shaheen will get the biggest pay cheque)."
(With NDTV Inputs)