The former Pakistani captain is sad for the current generation of cricketers who are missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and fears that politicians are putting an end to the legendary cricketing rivalry.
“I firmly believe that politics should not be involved in cricket. No problem, in my opinion, is too big to be resolved by sitting across from one another.”
“It’s not a major issue. I hate to say it, but politicians in our countries actually encourage hostility between the two countries rather than trying to bridge the gap. If our politicians had shied away from cricket, life would’ve been a lot simpler.”
“To me, cricket has evolved into a profession. 18 members of your Indian delegation attended a recent chess tournament in Lahore. Currently, the Pakistani football team is en route to India for the SAFF championship.”
“Stop playing cat and mouse; if other sports can go, why not cricket? I’m asking our politicians once more to keep politics out of our game and not mix it with cricket by saying, “Keep your politics separate from our game, don’t mix it with cricket.”
The choice to send India to Pakistan for the Asia Cup would have been a wise one. Sadly, it has not taken place.
“I have no idea what this hybrid model is. The rest of the series will be played in Sri Lanka, and Pakistan has been given four or five matches in an extremely bizarre manner. It doesn’t make sense at all.”
If Pakistan sticks with this hybrid model proposition, we will see them play their matches somewhere else during the World Cup once more.
Do you believe that cricket would continue to exist without India and Pakistan? Both of our cricket teams are excellent crowd-pleasers, and the ICC made a ton of money whenever India and Pakistan played. Any ICC cricket competition is meaningless if India and Pakistan aren’t playing each other.
“My only request to our politicians is that they allow the two teams to play instead of pulling out their swords. Allow the cricketers to collide. Let them share knowledge with one another. Let them go.”
Cricket is a sport that is both fun and competitive. Cricket is the only activity that can lessen hostility and foster friendship between two nations, according to the proverb “Ye chand log wo darwaaze bhi band karna chahte hai.” The only way is to do it, but sadly, not many people on either side of the border want to close the door to the last vestige of hope.
India and Pakistan should play each other frequently, I’ve always insisted. Every two years, a bilateral series must be played between India and Pakistan. Cricket should be used as a golden goose by the BCCI and PCB.
Imagine the interest that Test cricket would attract if Pakistan and India began to play regularly. The performance will stick in people’s minds. We discuss events like Viru (Virender Sehwag) becoming the Sultan of Multan or the Chennai Test where the Pakistan team received a standing ovation from the entire crowd.
When the day’s play was over, a few senior Pakistani players used to visit India’s dressing room for tea. The following day, the Indian team would come to our dressing room. The young cricketers found the discussions to be very beneficial.
The current generation will never have the opportunity to witness the cricketing rivalry between Sachin Tendulkar vs. Wasim Akram, Kapil Dev vs. Imran Khan, Bishan Singh Bedi vs. Zaheer Abbas, Sunil Gavaskar vs. Javed Miandad, or Sunil Gavaskar vs. Bishan Bedi. We missed what could have been an exciting match between Virat Kohli and Mohammed Amir a decade ago, and if things stay the same, we won’t get to see how Shubman Gill responds to Shaheen Shah Afridi’s inswinging deliveries. For the sake of the next generation, we must play frequently.
The annoyance has also been widely disseminated by social media, YouTubers, former cricket players, and TV hosts. Damage from it is severe. Such venom-spewing individuals are not worth listening to. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry is now an expert in cricket.
They will make a video in which they blabber nonsense, upload it to social media, and hope for a few likes and comments. I don’t know who will be able to control the YouTubers because they have grown to be powerful and would do anything for the viewership. Because the majority of them are unaware of cricket, their existence is unhealthy for our relationship with the sport.
“I’ve traveled to India so frequently. I coached the Punjab Ranji Trophy team for two years while also competing there as a player and captain.”
I never had the impression that I was abroad. We are one; Hum Ek Hi Hai. So many of my friends are lifelong. Only cricket can make people put their differences aside and become friends.
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