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Ben Stokes-led England were under pressure but they did not waver as they beat Pakistan by 26 runs on Day 4 in Multan on December 12 (Monday). Pakistan showed a brilliant fight chasing 355 but Saud Shakeel's 94 and Imam-ul-Haq's 60 were not enough to get them over the line. And as a result, England’s pocketed their first Test series win on Pakistan soil after 22 years. The latest loss for the Men in Green came in the backdrop of brewing tensions between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the latter's stance on not traveling to the neighbouring country for 2023 Asia Cup.
Since the time BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah made an affirmative claim that India will not travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup, tensions have brewed between the Indian cricket board and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). PCB chief Ramiz Raja has on numerous occasions voiced his against Shah's comments while making a solid statement of his own, claiming that Pakistan would skip the 2023 ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in India, if BCCI doesn't budge from its decision.
"We don't want to really go there but it's just that the fans want us to react. The fans are absolutely bitter because of what India's narrative has been regarding India-Pakistan. I think there's a government policy and I've got no idea whether they'll come or not. The Asia Cup would mean a great deal to the fans, it's a multi-nation tournament. We will resist," PCB chief recently reiterated his stance.
Both Indian and Pakistani fans are always rooting to see their national cricket teams cross swords on the cricket field. And a few Pakistan fans tried a different way to persuade the Indian team to travel to their country next year.
Two Pakistan cricket fans wrote a special message for former India captain and global superstar, Virat Kohli and raised placards during the Multan Test.
"Hi! King Kohli come and play Asia Cup. We will love you more than our king Babar," the placards read.
The BCCI has affirmed its stance of hosting the Asia Cup 2023 on a neutral venue rather than the tournament being staged in Pakistan.
