Shahid Afridi called upon Prime Minister Narendra D Modi to improve relations between the two South Asian neighbours, so that India and Pakistan can resume playing cricket. ‘The leaders will have to sit together and take full responsibility because this is the solution. I would request Mr Modi to improve the relations between India and Pakistan and arrange a match between the two teams,’ Afridi told Sports Tak.
Afridi was referring to India’s stance of not touring Pakistan for this year’s Asia Cup. BCCI Secretary Jay Amit Shah has stated that India won’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup after which the Pakistan Cricket Board retaliated by saying that if India doesn’t come, then Pakistan might consider pulling out of the ODI World Cup to be held in India later this year.
India and Pakistan last played a bilateral white-ball contest in 2012 when Pakistan travelled to India for three T20Is and three ODIs.
India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup. The political tension between the two nations resulted in halting bilateral cricket ties and they only play each other in ICC or Asian Cricket Council events.
‘It would have been a great thing if India had come here. India should take necessary steps for the best of cricket and Pakistan. We want the relations between the two countries to be better. This is not a period of fighting,’ Afridi urged the BCCI.
He recalled how the Indian players were showered with a lot of affection by Pakistan fans when they toured the country in 2005.
‘I remember when we came to India, people gave us a lot of love. If you remember the 2005 series, it was tremendous. Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) and Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) used to do shopping in Pakistan and no one used to take money from them. This is the beauty of both countries.’
Legendary Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has urged BCCI to allow Team India to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023 as it would help to improve the bilateral relationship between the two nations. With the marquee tournament set to be hosted across the border, BCCI secretary Jay Shah had previously hinted that India will travel to Pakistan.
Thus calling for the Asia Cup to be hosted at a neutral venue.
- The Pakistan Cricket Board however has maintained their stance for the tournament to be hosted on their soil or they have threatened to boycott the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 in India.
- The legendary big hitting allrounder said that Pakistan doesn’t have any security concerns as many international teams have safely toured in recent times.
As far as the security concern in Pakistan is concerned.
We had many international teams traveling here recently. We used to face security threats from India as well, but if permission is received from the government of both the countries then the tour will happen. If the tour doesn’t happen, we will give those people a chance. All they want is that there should be no cricket between them,” Afridi said.
The bilateral cricketing ties between the two nations hasn’t resumed post Mumbai 2008 terrorist attack; the teams have only met in a multi-nation tournament since then. Afridi said both the boards should have a discussion on a regular basis.