‘I would never go to India to play any match’ – Former Pakistan skipper asks PCB to refrain from travelling to India for 2023 ODI World Cup

The ongoing tussle between Indian Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board is seeing no end soon. Amid the concerns over Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan’s participation in World Cup 2023 is also in jeopardy. PCB needs clarification from the Pakistan government to play in India which is delaying the announcement of the Schedule.

However, former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandand said that he would have never travelled to India. The 66-year-old former skipper believes it is now time for India to reciprocate by touring Pakistan. “Pakistan has been to India in 2012 and even in 2016 now it is the turn of the Indians to come here,” Miandad said.

“If I had to make a decision I would never go to India to play any match, even the World Cup. We are always ready to play them (India) but they never respond in the same manner. Pakistan cricket is bigger…we are still producing quality players. So I don’t think even if we don’t go to India it will make any difference to us,” he added.

“It was on the cards”, says Javed Miandand on India’s participation in Asia Cup 

On India’s decision to refrain from sending to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, Miandand said that it was on the cards. “I always say one can’t choose its neighbours, so it is better to live by cooperating. And I have always said cricket is a sport which brings people closer to each other and can remove misunderstandings and grievances between countries,” he said. “It was on the cards that they would again not send their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup so it is time we also take a strong stand now,” he further added.

Notably, India forced PCB to organise Asia Cup 2023 in a hybrid model. In the proposed model, Pakistan will host four matches while Sri Lanka will host nine matches including finals and India’s matches. The full caravan will move to Sri Lanka after completing the first four matches in Pakistan as the tournament will start from August 31.