Home
India and Pakistan's cricket boards — the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) respectively — are currently at loggerheads because the BCCI do not want their players to travel to Pakistan, who have grabbed the hosting rights for the Asia Cup.
With the two boards working out their issues but sticking to their grounds, one former Pakistan legend in Shoaib Akhtar has taken the rivalry a step further and said that he would love to see both India and Pakistan in the ODI World Cup final and requested the team's skipper Babar Azam to take revenge for their loss in the 2011 ODI World Cup semifinal.
2011 was the last time India hosted the World Cup.
“I want an India vs Pakistan final, whether they are playing in Mumbai or Ahmedabad,” Akhtar told Sports Tak in an exclusive interview. “2011 ka badla lena hai is baar (Want to avenge the loss of 2011 semifinal),” he added.
“Pakistan landing in India will be bigger news than the World Cup,” feels Shoaib Akhtar. Sharing his thoughts on the tussle between the BCCI and the PCB, Akhtar slammed both boards and said that neither has any say in the matter and that the final decision will have to be taken by their respective governments.
“These are trash talks. Neither BCCI nor PCB can do anything in this matter. BCCI can’t do anything without asking the Indian government. Our board also can’t do anything without consulting our government. Everyone gives their opinion when it comes to the India-Pakistan tie. I have a request to all the former players from both sides; please stay away from making unnecessary comments,” he said.
“If Narendra Modi-led government will give the green light, who is BCCI to decide that they will travel to Pakistan,” he added.
More recently, India's sports minister Anurag Thakur spoke was coy about the issues surrounding the Asia Cup. “Let the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) take a call on the Indian team's participation in Asia Cup first, then only the sports ministry and home ministry will decide,” he told the press.
Akhtar was in Doha representing the Asia Lions in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) Masters. He won the final against the World Giants to lift the coveted trophy.
READ ALSO:
