Picture Credit: Twitter
India and Pakistan are currently fighting an off-the-field battle with the cricketing boards of both countries getting involved in a war of words. As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah stated that the Indian team will not be travelling to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023 and the tournament will be moved to a neutral venue, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened about pulling out of the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Former Pakistan players have also joined their cricketing board in replying to their Indian counterparts condemning Jay Shah’s statement. Wasim Akram has given a no-nonsense verdict on the BCCI-PCB saga as he praised PCB for their strongly worded reply to the Indian cricket board. He also made it clear that BCCI can’t dictate how Pakistan play their cricket.
Akram slammed Jay Shah for making the statement without consulting the chairman of the hosting board (Ramiz Raja of PCB). The former Pakistan speedster said that the Asian Cricket Council President should have called a meeting and discussed BCCI’s reservations about sending its players to Pakistan.
“Badi zabardast statement di hai cricket board ne. India can't dictate ki Pakistan kaise cricket khele. Aur Pakistan me cricket bhi 10-15 saal baad shuru hui hai. I'm an ex-cricketer, sportsperson, I don't know what's happening on political front. But people to people contact zaroori hai. Agar aapko kehna hi tha Jay Shah sahab, toh aap kam se kam hamaare chairman ko phone karte, meeting bithaate Asian Council ki. Aap apna idea dete, uspe discussion hoti,” Akram said on A Sports.
In English:
“It was a brilliant statement from our cricket board. India can't dictate how Pakistan play their cricket. Pakistan have started hosting teams after 10-15 years now. I'm an ex-cricketer, sportsperson, I don't know what's happening on political front. But communication is important. If Jay Shah had to say something, he should have phone-called the PCB chairman, there should have been a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council. There should have been a discussion.”
“You can't just stand up and say we are not travelling. Jabki award kiya hai poore council ne Pakistan ko Asia Cup. (Pakistan were awarded the Asia Cup) That's not fair,” Akram further said.