Veteran Pakistan cricketers Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi have dismissed Pakistan’s limited-overs skipper Sarfraz Ahmed’s claims that India is not playing their arch-rivals because they are afraid to do so.
India have cut all the bilateral ties with their arch-rivals due to the escalating political tensions and terror attacks on Indian soils. The two neighbours have not played a full bilateral Test series after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks which led to the suspension of cricketing ties between the two countries. They played a short series of three ODIs and two T20 matches in India in December 2012 but otherwise, they have met only in ICC-organised events or the Asia Cup. The situation has only deteriorated after last year’s Uri attacks.
And Misbah is well aware of that. Speaking to the media at the ICC Champions Trophy unveiling at the national stadium, the Pakistan Test skipper said:
“Sarfaraz has his own views but I don’t think he said they were scared directly. To me it is simple, everyone knows the reasons for India not playing against Pakistan. It is all political and has nothing to do with cricket, I think the Indian team players also would like to play against us but it is politics which is not allowing a bilateral series. It is the Indian government which is not allowing it.”
He further said that the lack of Indo-Pak matches is a loss for the game.
“It is a great loss to cricket that we are not playing against each other like we should. We are achieving nothing by not playing against each other,” he opined before noting that even the Champions Trophy June 4 clash in England between the two teams was already sold out.
Misbah also said that the Sarfraz Ahmed-led team can defeat India in the Champions Trophy.
“He (Sarfaraz) has done a good job and I think our team is a blend of experience and youth. We are now best placed to win the June 4 encounter against India and also do well in the Champions Trophy,” Misbah said.
Afridi also said that the India are not playing against Pakistan only because of the government and not because the players are scared of facing Pakistan.
“If there is no bilateral cricket being played it is because of the Indian government. I don’t think the Indian players do not want to play against us,” said Afridi who announced retirement from international cricket last month. When we went there last year the Indian people were happy to see us play there.”