The Asia Cup 2023 has been making headlines for the past few months as Pakistan are unlikely to host the event after their ‘hybrid model’ was rejected by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), as per reports. As Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had rejected to tour Pakistan due to tension between two nations, Pakistan had proposed the ‘hybrid model’ under which India’s matches will be played in United Arab Emirates (UAE). As the fate of Asia Cup 2023 is still uncertain, former Pakistan fast bowler Junaid Khan has made a strong statement.
"The situation in Pakistan is good. If other teams are coming, such as Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand, and they have no security problems, then why does India have a problem? What is the reason for this? Are they Aliens from another world who have security problems?" Junaid was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Junaid wants International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene as Pakistan is not a small team. He stressed on the fact that Pakistan recently became the no.1 ODI rankings for the first time and are still among the top teams in the world.
"The ICC should look into these issues; otherwise, cricket without Pakistan is impossible. Pakistan is not a small team; just a few days ago, Pakistan was the world's number one team and is still among the top three teams," the 33-year-old said.
Pakistan reached the top spot in ODI rankings after beating New Zealand in the fourth ODI. However, they slipped to third position after failing to clean sweep the Kiwis at home. Few days later, Pakistan rose to the second spot surpassing India, as per ICC’s new parameters for rankings which gave only 50 per cent weightage to series played before May 2022.
Junaid made his international debut in 2011. The left-arm pacer has represented Pakistan in 22 Tests, 76 ODIs and nine T20Is and has a total of 189 international wickets. His last T20I appearance was against India where he remained wicketless in T20 World Cup 2014. He could not make a comeback in ODIs after conceding 85 runs in his full quota of 10 overs against England before ODI World Cup 2019.
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