‘Request to Politicians - Let IND & PAK Play Instead of Drawing Out Their Swords’: Former Pakistan Captain

The tussle over the conduct of the Asia Cup may have been resolved with the application of the hybrid model but the Pakistan cricket fraternity still believes it wasn’t the right way. Several former cricketers and ex-captains have asserted that India should have visited Pakistan for the upcoming multi-nation tournament instead of staging it in two different countries.

The latest individual to join the bandwagon is former captain Intikhab Alam who strongly feels that cricket shouldn’t be kept away from politics.

“It would have been a great decision if India had travelled to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. Unfortunately, it has not happened,” Alam told the Indian Express.

“What is this hybrid model? I can’t understand it. In a very weird way, Pakistan has been given four or five matches and the rest of the series will be held in Sri Lanka. It doesn’t make any sense. During the World Cup again, we will see Pakistan playing their matches someplace else, if they stick with this hybrid model proposition,” he added.

The on-field rivalry between India and Pakistan is a treat to watch for the lovers of the game. The fandom has been for decades, and the game continues to attract people to stadiums in large numbers.

Alam further stated that India and Pakistan players are great crowd pullers and cricket cannot survive without these nations.

“Do you think cricket can survive without India and Pakistan? Our cricketers are great crowd-pullers, the ICC made tons of money from an India-Pakistan match. There is no relevance in any ICC cricket tournament if India and Pakistan are not playing against each other. My only request to our politicians is that instead of drawing out their swords, they should let the two teams play. Let the cricketers meet. Let them learn from each other. Let them travel,” Alam said.

“Cricket se hi pyar mohabbat badh sakti hai aur koi tareeka nahi hai. Ye Chand log wo darwaaze bhi band karna chahte hai (Cricket is the only thing that can reduce animosity and can spread love and friendship between two countries. That’s the only way but unfortunately, few people from both sides of the border want to shut down the door of only hope),” he added.