After the ICC announced that Pakistan will play India in Ahmedabad on October 5 in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) reluctance to play at the venue, former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan said that Pakistan can’t “cherry pick” which venues they can play at in an ICC event. The former bowler said that match should be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, as it is “one of the finest stadiums in the world.”
“The World Cup final should be hosted in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi stadium as it is one of the finest stadiums in the world. The schedule was due to be announced and as far as India versus Pakistan match is concerned, it is about whether Pakistan wants to play in Ahmedabad or not. Why would not they play because it is Gujarat. Pakistan is trying to cherry-pick the venues for their matches, which they should not. It is not possible. It is an ICC event. ICC and BCCI are on the same page (about the schedule). The match should happen at Narendra Modi Stadium,” said Wassan to ANI.
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“Pakistan cannot choose if they have a problem. India said that we would not play in Asia Cup as our government has decided due to security reasons. I am all for not playing bilateral series with them till relationships do not improve. But it is a multi-team tournament, we will have to play Pakistan at Asia Cup. If Pakistan says they would not come then do not come. But for them coming to India is their matter of survival for their country and cricket. There are so many in Pakistan running cricket whether it is their Army, PCB or government. Sometimes their decisions are nationalistic and they try adding anti-India sentiment to it for popularity among people.”
“So, politics is always involved. Anyhow the venues decided are historical like Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai. Ahmedabad is there already which is the largest stadium in the world with the kind of world-class infrastructure we have. It is a six-week tournament. I think Pakistan have already announced the team three months before but India would like to play few One-day matches. A few of our players are injured and they will announce the team once it is fit,” he added.
Also Read: It’s OFFICIAL! India vs Pakistan World Cup match on Oct 15 in Ahmedabad
Wassan said that there is a lot of hype around India and Pakistan matches and people talk more about the India-Pakistan matches than the World Cup itself but now things are changing.
“It is a World Cup other teams are also coming. India-Pakistan relationship is politicized then they (people) relate it with cricket. But things are getting better slowly and all that hype is slowing down with the way we are growing as an economy. Indian economy is thriving the Indian cricket is thriving. Pakistan has its own issues. So, we feel pity for Pakistan. I do not think it is a rivalry. We can win or lose. Neither beating them gives us that joy nor losing to them gives us that disappointment,” he added.
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