New Delhi: Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin believes India should take a stand regarding playing cricket with Pakistan amidst long-standing political tensions and stick to it.
India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in February-March. It had led to the Asian Cu being shifted to UAE as Pakistan also declared unwillingness to play in India.
The two countries haven’t engaged in playing in a bilateral series in over 10 years, with the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 escalating tensions.
Amidst this prevailing tense atmosphere, India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group and are scheduled to play against each other on September 14 in the Asia Cup that begins on September 9 and stretches till Sept 28.
“I always say that everything should happen, or if it does not happen, then it should not happen at all. If you’re not playing bilateral matches, then you shouldn’t play international events too, that’s what I believe. But whatever the government and the board decide will happen…,” Azharuddin said, as quoted by hindustantimes.com.
A week earlier, former India cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh among others refused to play against Pakistani players in a veterans’ tournament, prompting organisers to cancel the match.
“The veterans’ league is not official, it’s not sanctioned by the ICC or the BCCI, it’s conducted privately but the Asia Cup is a tournament governed by the ACC,” Azhar said.
Asia Cup’s organisation was under jeopardy as India had initially refused to attend a meeting in Dhaka but then agreed to be present in a virtual capacity.
After the meeting, Asian Cricket Council president and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi declared that the 17th edition of the tournament will be held in the UAE from September 9.
As the 2026 T20 World Cup is close by, the tournament will be held in the T20 format and will have eight teams for the first time in history.
India are clubbed in Group A with Pakistan, Oman and the UAE, while Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are in Group B. The top two teams will move to the Super Four stage.