KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain and legendary batter Javed Miandad lashed out at arch-rivals India amid the ongoing controversy regarding the hosting of this year’s Asia Cup.
The controversy came to light last year amid the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup when the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) announced that their national men’s team will not tour Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023.
According to the Indian, the decision was taken following the 91st BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the reports further suggested that BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) hinted at shifting the tournament to a neutral venue.
“Neutral venue for Asia Cup is not unprecedented and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan,” Shah stated.
“I have decided that we will play at a neutral venue,” he maintained.
Following BCCI Secretary’s unilateral decision, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote a formal complaint to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and requested the ACC to call an emergency meeting in light of the current situation.
The PCB management then also hinted at pulling out of the upcoming ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, scheduled in India as an act of protest against Shah’s remarks.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s batting great Miandad reacted to the ongoing controversy and did not mince his words as he lashed out at the arch-rivals India.
“I have always been saying, if India doesn’t want to come, we don’t care. They can go to hell. We are getting our cricket. It’s ICC’s job to control such things, else there’s no point of having a governing body,” Miandad said while speaking to the media.
“ICC should have one rule for every country. If such teams don’t come, no matter how strong they are, you should remove them.
“They should play, why aren’t they playing? They are afraid of consequences.
“Even in our times, they would not play because they were afraid of consequences. India’s crowd is ‘nasty’. Whenever India would lose, no matter against whom, they would burn houses. That’s what they are afraid of.”
It is pertinent to mention here that India last toured Pakistan in 2008 to partake in the Asia Cup.
The two sides last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for three T20Is and as many ODIs.
Since then, the two arch-rivals did not play a bilateral series and only met in ICC and ACC events.
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