Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq, a former cricket captain for Pakistan, has fervently argued in favor of having his nation's squad compete in the much awaited ODI World Cup, which will be hosted in India.
Misbah is adamant that depriving these bitter rivals of the chance to face off on the biggest stage would be a grave injustice to the ardent supporters who are anxiously anticipating this spectacle.
"When there can be contacts between the two countries in other sports, why not in cricket. Why link cricket with political relations? It is unfair to deprive people of a chance to see their teams play against each other," said Misbah, the 49-year-old former Pakistan captain and coach at a event in Karachi. "It is great injustice to the fans who follow Pakistan and Indian cricket a lot”.
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Misbah has more than 11,000 international runs and is well respected in the cricketing community due to his significant experience as a player and coach.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made it plain that the team's participation in the World Cup is subject to government approval due to the tense relations between Pakistan and India.
India has previously declined to play its Asia Cup games in Pakistan due to geopolitical unrest. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has therefore announced a hybrid format for the competition, with divided venues in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
"Certainly Pakistan should be playing in the World Cup even in India," he added. "The many times I have played in India, we have enjoyed the pressure and crowds there. Because it gives you motivation and conditions in India suit us. Our team has the capability to do well in Indian conditions." Misbah also advised the players to just focus on cricket and winning the World Cup.
Zaka Ashraf, the acting chairman of the PCB, has also spoken in favor of having neutral venues be used for Pakistan's games against India. However, Misbah is convinced that it is past time for Pakistan to visit India and host the Indian team there.
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He mentioned how much he enjoyed performing in India and how the energetic crowds created a thrilling environment. Misbah stressed that his team's strengths are best suited to the circumstances in India and that he is confident in their ability to compete at the highest level during the competition.
Misbah also provided the players with smart guidance, advising them to keep their attention entirely on cricket and the objective of winning the World Cup. He underlined the need of picking the starting lineups with consideration for certain locations and opposing teams. Shahid Afridi, a former cricketer, agreed with Misbah that Pakistan must take part in the World Cup in India.
Afridi acknowledged the difficulties of playing in India, but he also emphasized the enormous happiness and acclaim that come with winning in front of Indian audiences.
Afridi appreciated the decision to use quality venues for Pakistan's World Cup matches and showed confidence in his team's talents. He thought that Pakistan may succeed even if they played in Ahmedabad with careful planning.
Afridi expressed worry about the PCB's frequent leadership changes and called for the creation of a stable framework that is impervious to these changes. He stressed the value of providing cricketers significant positions in the PCB since they have insightful knowledge of the game and an understanding of the psychology of players.
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