2023 Asia Cup: While India’s stance is clear of not traveling to Pakistan to play Asia Cup, cricketer-turned-expert Intikhab Alam is saddened that politics played a big part in Rohit Sharma & Co not playing the Continental Cup in Pakistan. It has been close to 20 years since India have traveled to play a series in the neighborhood country, and it seems there is no end to reviving INDO PAK matches in Pakistan.
“I am a great believer that politics should stay away from cricket. I feel no issue is so big that it can’t be solved if you sit across the table. It’s not a big deal. I feel very sad to say this, but politicians of our countries, instead of reducing the gap between the two nations, they cherish the animosity. Life would have been much easier if our politicians had stayed away from cricket,” Intikhab Alam said to Indian Express.
Pakistan pull off STUNNING move, request ICC to swap World Cup 2023 venues
2023 Asia Cup: Intikhab Alam not impressed with proposed hybrid model says, “It doesn’t make sense”
Alam also spoke in length about the proposed hybrid model and said it does not make any sense to play four matches in Sri Lanka. For the unversed India have proposed a hybrid model wherein they won’t travel to Pakistan to play Asia Cup matches. Instead, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh are the proposed venues where India will have their matches.
“What is this hybrid model? I can’t understand it. In a very weird way, Pakistan has been given four or five matches and the rest of the series will be held in Sri Lanka. It doesn’t make any sense. During the World Cup again, we will see Pakistan playing their matches someplace else if they stick with this hybrid model proposition,” Alam added.
Alam also said that cricket won’t survive without India-Pakistan matches. ICC also generates a lot of revenue during the matches between these two Asian rivals. The former Pakistan captain wants politics to stay clear from INDO PAK matches and wants cricketers to meet, greet and learn from each other.
