Ramiz Raja's U-Turn: From World Cup Boycott To Travelling To Landing In India

Sunil Gavaskar with Ramiz Raja in the pre-match show | Source: X.com

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has been granted an Indian visa and is now in the country for the ICC World Cup 2023. He was spotted at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on September 29, doing a pre-match show alongside Sunil Gavaskar for the Pakistan vs. New Zealand warm-up game.

Notably, Ramiz Raza, who is also the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, strongly advocated for Pakistan's team to boycott the ICC World Cup 2023 earlier because India had refused to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023 due to political tensions.

Here’s what Ramiz Raza had said:

“Our position is blunt that if they (Indian team) come then we will go to the World Cup, if they do not come then let them do it. Let them play without Pakistan."

"If Pakistan does not participate in the World Cup scheduled in India next year, who will see it? We will adopt an aggressive approach, our team is showing performance, we have defeated the biggest business-making cricket team in the world, we have played in the final of the T20 World Cup."

India and Pakistan refrain from engaging in bilateral cricket series or visiting each other's countries, primarily due to the longstanding political tensions. 

The last time India and Pakistan faced off in a bilateral series was in 2012-13, amid strained ties. Since then, both countries have played each other only in ICC events and the Asia Cup. 

This is the first time in the last seven years that the Pakistan cricket team has travelled to India. Contrary to expectations, the Babar Azam-led side has received a grand welcome at Hyderabad airport, where a large crowd has gathered to catch a glimpse of them. 

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