Pakistan legend says Babar Azam & Co shouldn’t go to India for World Cup 2023
The former captain’s fresh attack came after Pakistan was forced to host the upcoming Asia Cup in a hybrid model with India playing all their matches in Sri Lanka
Former Pakistan legend Javed Miandad is known for his harsh and straightforward remarks on arch-rivals India. He never holds himself back from making controversial comments and this time, he has asked the Babar Azam-led Pakistan team not to travel to India for the ICC World Cup 2023, scheduled to take place later this year.
The deadlock over the Asia Cup staging has ended and now Pakistan are expected to travel to India for the World Cup in October-November. The much-awaited contest between India and Pakistan is likely to place in Ahmedabad on October 15. But Miandad feels that it’s time for India to make a reciprocating tour. His fresh attack came after Pakistan was forced to host the upcoming Asia Cup in a hybrid model with India playing all their matches in Sri Lanka.
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“Pakistan has been to India in 2012 and even in 2016 now it is the turn of the Indians to come here,” Miandad was quoted as saying by Sportstar.
“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.
“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 not make any difference to us,” he added.
India last visited Pakistan for the 2008 Asia Cup. Later in 2012, Pakistan played a T20I series and an ODI series in India. Since then, the two teams have never engaged in a bilateral series due to geopolitical tensions between the two nations. Miandad feels sports not be mixed with politics.
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“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,” he said.
“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,” he said.
