In 2008, Nazir signed for the Indian Cricket League and played for the Lahore Badshahs.

He scored 111 runs not out, off just 44 deliveries, against the Hyderabad Heroes in the third of the best of three finals of the tournament and helped his team achieve victory.

After signing up for the Indian Cricket League, his chances of ever playing again for Pakistan looked slim.

The final match, which was in Pakistan's favour, was lost due to Imran Nazir's bowling.

The emergence of several Pakistan opening batsmen such as Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Taufeeq Umar, and Salman Butt kept him out of the national side.

He scored 160 runs against Zimbabwe in Pakistan's last match during the 2007 Cricket World Cup, after being knocked out by Ireland.

[5] Having severed ties with the Indian Cricket League, Nazir was recalled to the One Day International and Twenty20 squads for Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka in August 2009.

[8] Nazir was recalled to the Pakistan team in September 2012 for the Twenty20 series against Australia and the following ICC World Twenty20 which was held in Sri Lanka.

The event was staged to promote community cohesion in the town, as well as raise money for a cancer charity.