• Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sport

No India in Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan? ‘Go to hell,’ says former Pakistan great

Fans of Pakistan’s and Indian cricket teams cheer before the start of the ICC mens Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on October 24, 2021. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)

By: Shubham Ghosh

With the controversy over the fate of Asia Cup 2023 refusing to die down, former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has broken his silence on the matter with a scathing attack on India, asking the International Crickey Council (ICC) to “remove” the team.

The tournament scheduled for September has reached a deadlock as the cricket boards of Pakistan and India have differed over the tournament. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India is not willing to allow its players to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board is hell-bent on hosting it as per the schedule.

The 65-year-old Miandad, one of the most temperamental cricketers of his generation, lashed out at India saying Pakistan wouldn’t care if India decide against going there for Asia Cup.

In a video on YouTube, he said, “Main to pehle bhi kehta tha, nahi aate to bhaad mein jaayein, hamein koi fark nahi padta, hamein hamari cricket mil rahi hai. Ye ICC ka kaam hai, ye cheez agar ICC control nahi kar skti, to fir governing body ka koi kaam nahi hai(I have always been saying, if India don’t to come, we don’t care. We are getting our cricket. It’s ICC’s job to control such things, else there’s no point of having a governing body).”

“ICC should have one rule for every country. If such teams don’t come, no matter how strong they are, you should remove them,” he added.

He also said that India weren’t willing to play in Pakistan since they are afraid of the public’s extreme behaviour, in a case where they go on to lose in the arch-rival’s territory.

“Aa ke khelo, khelte kyun nahi hai. Bhagte hain, unki museebat ho jaati hai bhagte hai (They should play, why aren’t they playing? They are afraid of consequences),” he asserted.

When asked by a reporter if India were refusing to play in Pakistan as they are afraid to go back if they lose, Miandad’s agreed.

“Hamare time pe bhi, wo isliye nahi khelte they kyunki harte hain to musibat ho jati hai. Wahan ka crowd ‘nasty hai’. Jab bhi India haarti hai, chaahe kisi se haare, wahan ke jo log hain, wo gharon ko aag laga dete hain. Hamein yaad hai, jab ham khelte they to unke sath museebatein hui hain (Even in our times, they would not play because they were afraid of consequences. India’s crowd is ‘nasty’. Whenever India would lose, no matter against whom, they would burn houses. That’s what they are afraid of),” the former batter said.

The veteran felt the game’s international body should take strict action against teams such as India for refusing to play in events.

“Main ICC ko kehta hun ki wo strict action lein. Ek rule and regulation ICC ke paas hona chahiye. Agar koi bhi country is tarah behave karti hai, uske upar action lena chahiye. Aisi teamon ko bahar karo, khud ba khud line pe aa jayenge (I want to ask ICC to take action. There should be a rule. If any country behaves like this, there should be consequences. Such teams should be removed), he concluded.

India last went to play in Pakistan in 2008 when they played in the Asia Cup there. The last time Pakistan came to India was in 2012 for a three-game one-day international series.

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