Cricket News

Former Pakistan pacer seething with anger over Jay Shah’s comments, calls it ‘absolutely wrong’

Former right-arm pacer Mohammad Sami, former left-arm quick bowler Saleem Jaffer and former all-rounder Iqbal Inam have said that politics and sports should be treated through a different lens. Jaffer kept mum on whether India’s decision was apt or not or whether the Pakistan Cricket Board should retaliate strongly if the Asia Cup 2023 is shifted out of Pakistan and moved into another venue, due to his work with the board.

Imam emphasised that the Cricket Board and the Pakistan Government always wanted to start afresh and mend things to signal a new chapter in Indo-Pak cricket. Imam further added that Pakistan should not rule out going to the 2023 World Cup even if India does not come and play in the Asia Cup. Here is what he had to say, – “Their decision is absolutely wrong,” Imam told The Express Tribune.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board always come on the front foot to invite India to play and go there too [for the 2016 T20 World Cup].”
“If someone is doing something wrong that doesn’t mean you should too. We have a big heart as a country and as a people, so we shouldn’t back out of the 2023 ODI World Cup. “The Cricket Governing Body should step in too and ask India to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup.”

‘Mixing politics and sports is never right’

Mohammad Sami was miffed with India’s decision of not coming to Pakistan and also was stunned as the Asia Cup will only be held in 2023. “Absolutely not,” Sami told The Express Tribune when asked if India’s decision to not visit Pakistan amidst the hot political climate between the Asian neighbours was right. “Mixing politics and sports is never right.”

Jaffer had a slightly different viewpoint on the issue and had to choose his words carefully as he was involved with the board, but he went on to say that “Sports and politics should be kept separate. Sports is supposed to actually bring people closer, who are divided by political or physical boundaries,” he added. These statements were made in reaction to the comments of the Indian Cricket Board secretary Jay Shah’s comments about India not taking part in the Asia Cup 2023 if held in Pakistan and saying that the same will be held in a neutral venue.