KARACHI: Pakistani star bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has got permission to feature in the International League (IL) T20 next year, sources told Geo News.
As per sources, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given permission to the bowler to play in the league for one week. ILT20's second edition will be played just before the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next year.
Apart from Shaheen, other Pakistani players will also be seen in action during the UAE-based league.
It must be noted that no Pakistani player was part of the inaugural season of the event, which was played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah earlier this year.
Pakistani players including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan were offered a whopping USD 900,000 alongside a three-year captaincy contract. However, then-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja wasn't interested in sending the players to ILT20. Instead, he asked compensation from the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) in exchange for releasing their players.
ILT20 was launched last year and was considered one of the richest leagues after the Indian Premier League (IPL). The league has a huge investment from India.
Dubai Capitals, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, MI Emirates, Sharjah Warriors Gulf Giants, and Desert Vipers competed in the inaugural edition of the ILT20. Giants, under the leadership of Colin Munro, beat Vipers in the final to lift the trophy on February 12 this year.