Former Pakistan captain and legendary batter Javen Miandad launched a fresh attack on India and urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to not send the country's cricket team to India for the ICC ODI World Cup which is scheduled to take place later in the year. Miandad's comments came in the backdrop of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to not send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup. Miandad said that if India is not willing to travel to Pakistan then the latter should reciprocate in the same manner.
"Pakistan has been to India in 2012 and even in 2016 now it is the turn of the Indians to come here," Miandad said, as quoted by PTI.
"If I had to make a decision I would never go to India to play any match, even the World Cup. We are always ready to play them (India) but they never respond in the same manner.
"Pakistan cricket is bigger...we are still producing quality players. So I don't think even if we don't go to India it will make any difference to us," he added.
It was in 2008 when the Indian cricket team last traveled to Pakistan. The political tensions between the two nations have gravely impacted cricket and Miandad feels sports not be mixed with politics.
"I always say one can't choose its neighbours, so it is better to live by cooperating with each other. And I have always said cricket is a sport which brings people closer to each other and can remove misunderstandings and grievances between countries," he said.
Talking about the 'hybrid model' approved for the 2023 Asia Cup, Miandad said that the Indian team not traveling to Pakistan was always on the cards. The Pakistan legend, who has consistently criticised India, also urged the PCB to take a stand.
"It was on the cards that they would again not send their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup so it is time we also take a strong stand now," he said.
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