The former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad created a stir when he reacted strongly to reports of the possibility of Asia Cup 2023 shifted out of Pakistan, taking potshots at the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Miandad, in an interaction at a public event in Pakistan, had said India and its cricket board can “go to hell”, adding that Pakistan doesn’t need India’s support to be a powerhouse in world cricket.
The delay over the announcement of the hosts for Asia Cup 2023 has led to war of words between Pakistan and a few Indian cricketers. Pakistan have the hosting rights for the tournament but sources told India Today after an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in February in Bahrain that the 50-over tournament would be moved out of Pakistan after India expressed its unwillingness to travel to their neighboring country.
India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket since the 2012-13 season and the two teams have only been meeting in ICC and ACC tournaments. While Pakistan last traveled to India for the T20 World Cup in 2016, India have not toured Pakistan since 2005-06.
“Do you know what hell means? If you don’t want to play just don’t. We don’t have a problem. Ask the Indian cricketers. They’ll also say that there should be cricket between these two teams in their respective countries. It’ll benefit both nations,” Miandad said in his YouTube video.
“If they think that their (India) not coming to Pakistan makes any difference, let me tell you that it doesn’t. That’s what I meant. We are independent. Pakistan has produced world-class cricketers as well as hockey players. Everywhere around the world, neighbouring countries are playing with each other.”
Meanwhile, Miandad said it’s important that the two countries start playing bilateral cricket as he recalled memories of travelling Indian fans welcomed in Pakistan.
“Earlier we used to go there and then they used to come here. When India came to play a series in Pakistan, there were so many people from India who also came to watch. There were no hotels available and the Lahore residents invited them to their houses. It had a very good impact on the relationships between the two countries,” Miandad added.
