With every passing day, the talk whether or not the Indian cricket team will journey to Pakistan for the Asia Cup solely intensifies. It all started final the place, when ACC president Jay Shah wrote to the ICC requesting for an opportunity of venue for the Asia Cup. Originally presupposed to be held in Pakistan, the PCB took exception to the truth that such a proposal had been made and retaliation, threatened a World Cup pullout later within the 12 months. Ever since, the 2 boards have gone back-and-forth, however whereas Pakistan have insisted that they’re eager to host India, the BCCI has remained agency of their stance.

As per the newest growth, the 2 boards have seemingly labored on a hybrid mannequin for the Asia Cup. According to it, the Asia Cup will stay with Pakistan however India’s matches shall be held at a impartial venue – most definitely both Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The perception is that India doesn’t belief Pakistan’s safety, even though groups reminiscent of England and Australia have performed out full-fledged collection over there, though sure former cricketers really feel there’s much more to the matter than what meets the eyes. Imran Nazir is one such ex-Pakistan star who feels that the entire safety challenge is only a cowl as much as masks India’s concern on going through Pakistan on their soil.

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“There is no security reason. Just look how many teams have been to Pakistan. Forget A teams, even Australia visited. These are all just cover ups. The truth is that India won’t come to Pakistan [for Asia Cup] because they are afraid of losing. Security is just an excuse. Come and play cricket. When you start playing politics, there is no way back,” he stated on the Nadir Ali Podcast.

The final time India travelled to Pakistan was approach again in 2006, the place they misplaced the Test collection however gained the ODIs. Ever since, Pakistan have toured India twice earlier than bilateral ties have been severed after a short tour of 2012/13. A complete decade has handed and now the state of affairs is such that India and Pakistan face one another solely in multi-nation ICC tournaments such because the World Cups, Champions Trophy and the Asia Cups. Last 12 months, India and Pakistan did battle thrice – twice through the Asia Cup and later on the T20 World Cup and on every of these events, the ambiance was palpable. Nazir rues that the rivalry has been restricted to sure occasions in right now’s time whereas insisting that shedding to Pakistan is one thing India can not digest.

“People want to watch India vs Pakistan games because there is a different level of excitement to it. The entire world knows it. Even we as cricketer feel that for cricket to reach every corner of the world, India-Pakistan matches need to happen. We used to play so much cricket. They are such a balanced tea but India cannot tolerate losing. It’s a game; you’ll win some, you’ll lose some,” he talked about.