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The rivalry between India and Pakistan in sports and particularly cricket is known globally. Everytime issues between the arch-rivals seem to be settling, one or the other comment by any former Pakistan cricketer leads to another controversy. This time batting great Javed Miandad has spewed fresh venom at India saying that until the Board of Control for Cricket in India doesn’t send India team to Pakistan first, the Men in Green should also refrain from travelling to the neighbouring nation.
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According to the draft schedule prepared by the ICC, Pakistan will take on India on October 15 in the ODI Men’s World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, the former Pakistan captain is of the opinion that it is India’s time to reciprocate by touring to Pakistan. Addressing the media, Miandad said, “Pakistan has been to India in 2012 and even in 2016 now it is the turn of the Indians to come here.”
He added, “If I had to make a decision, I would never go to India to play any match, even the World Cup. We are always ready to play them (India), but they never respond in the same manner. India can go to hell if they do not want to come here. Pakistan cricket is bigger…we are still producing quality players. So, I don’t think even if we don’t go to India, it will make any difference to us.”
India last visited Pakistan in 2008 for the 50-over Asia Cup. Since then, the bilateral cricket relations between the neighbouring nations were suspended due to political tensions. “I always say one can’t choose its neighbours, so it is better to live by cooperating with each other. And I have always said cricket is a sport which brings people closer to each other and can remove misunderstandings and grievances between countries,” Miandad went on to say.
Miandad’s statement came after Pakistan were forced to host the upcoming Asia Cup in a hybrid model. According to it, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will jointly host the forthcoming mega continental tournament. “It was on the cards that they would again not send their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, so it is time we also take a strong stand now,” Miandad, who has time and again criticised Indian cricket, said.
