Former Pakistan skipper shares interesting insight over India playing in Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023
India vs Pakistan (Image Credit: Twitter)
India and Pakistan Cricket Boards have been going at loggerheads over the Men In Blue visiting Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023. Apparently, since Jay Shah’s announcement of not sending the team, PCB chairperson, Ramiz Raja has ‘threatened’ not to send the Pakistan team for the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. While both boards having a go at each other, former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt shared his views.
He used the ‘Vanilla vs Chocolate ice-cream’ example to explain the situation. The left-hander added that politics will always be there but the betterment of the game matters the most. Furthermore, Butt agreed with Ramiz’s statement of spectators not having any interest if Pakistan doesn’t play. The former Kolkata player in the Indian T20 League maintained that the absence of the India-Pakistan game will have a severe financial impact.
“What can we say? One is the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and the other is India’s sports minister. It is not going to happen where one will say vanilla ice-cream is good and the other party would agree. If one says vanilla, the other would say chocolate and vice-versa. Some people use this as a podium and stand on it. The political aspect is always there, but the main issue is the betterment of cricket,” Butt said.
“Ramiz Raja is right. Those who follow Pakistan cricket and are admirers of the team, their interest level will be less if Pakistan doesn’t play. If India-Pakistan match doesn’t happen, lot of people who were making profits would end up suffering losses. In true sense, people want to see India-Pakistan cricket. They want India to come to Pakistan and Pakistan to go to India. They want improvement in relationships,” Butt added.
India and Pakistan have the right not to play each other; Salman Butt
The 2009 20-20 World Cup winner also said that it is difficult to say what sort of decision would be made. However, he maintained that India must come to Pakistan and vice-versa
“I don’t know what will happen (with regard to 2023 World Cup), but at least talk should be constructive. I think they get bored sitting like that. India should play in Pakistan and Pakistan should play in India. Both nations have the right to refuse the other if one is not coming,” the former Pakistan skipper concluded.
