WATCH: PCB Chairperson Zaka Ashraf refers to India as ‘Dushman Mulk’ while addressing media

When it seemed, everything was hunky-dory between the cricketing bodies of India and Pakistan, a statement from PCB Management Committee chairperson Zaka Ashraf has once again played a spoilsport.

Zaka Ashraf referred to India while addressing the media as “Dushman Mulk” (Enemy nation). He said “We gave these contracts to our players with love and affection. Never in the history of Pakistan, such an amount of money has been given to players. My aim was to keep the players’ morale high as they go to countries, the enemy country (‘Dushman Mulk’) for competitions.”

Here’s the viral video:

One side, Pakistan cricket team received enthusiastic welcome in India.

Other side, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf termed India as "Dushman Mulk" (enemy country).

So, no matter what we do, Pakistan's mentality & agenda is clear. pic.twitter.com/oUbz8MYsl5

— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) September 28, 2023

Mr. Ashraf was talking about the recently issued central contracts to the players which is being termed as a landmark development. In a new initiative by the PCB, players have been handed over a three-year contract instead of the usual 12-month contracts. There is also a considerable rise in players’ wages including a share of revenue from the Apex Cricket Council’s financial allocation to the PCB.

Pakistan will take part in two warm-up games against New Zealand and Australia ahead of ODI World Cup 2023

The PCB management committee chairperson has expressed his commitment to improving the financial security of the players and rewarding them for the work they put in. But statements like the one that he recently made, referring to India as an adversary, will hamper his credentials not only in India but in Pakistan as well.

He received some flak from Pakistani fans as they thought this statement was unwarranted especially when the World Cup is around the corner. This will deviate the attention from cricket to off-the-field controversies. Already there were a lot of disagreements between the two boards before the World Cup schedule was announced and such statements will only add to the acrimony.

Pakistan team has reached India and they were accorded a warm welcome as they landed in Hyderabad on September 27. They will play their two warm-up games against New Zealand and Australia at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad before starting their World Cup campaign. The kick their campaign off against the Netherlands on the 6^th of October at the same stadium.