Pakistan missing out on IPL experience - Hafeez

Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez has said players from his country are missing out on a "great learning experience" by not being allowed to play in the IPL. The PCB, he said, should look into the matter and resolve it so that Pakistan players get a chance to work with other international players.

"It is strange that for years now Pakistani players have not been allowed to play in the IPL because it is a world-class league and there is so much to learn from it," Hafeez told Express newspaper. "I played in the first season of the IPL and I got a chance to share the dressing room with greats like Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting and it was a great learning experience. I believe that what our players are missing out the most is this aspect of playing in the IPL."

Hafeez represented Kolkata Knights Riders in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, but Pakistan players have not been allowed in the tournament since the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 which strained relations between the two nations.

"It is no use taking interest in a thing you are not part of," he said. "But this IPL problem is something that our cricket board should look into and resolve. Because it is a world-class event and every player wants to take part in such an event where the big crowds only add to the fun and excitement."