Asia Cup 2023|'India should come to play in Pakistan': Former Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed
The Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan [Source: Twitter]
In a year, that will see the ICC World Cup 2023 take place, the Asia Cup 2023 is finding difficulties due to geo-political tensions between Pakistan and India. The Asia Cup 2023, which is set to act as a precursor to the marquee event, is scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan, however, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have made its stance clear on now traveling across the border for the tournament.
The PCB in retaliation warned BCCI about not travelling to India for the World Cup later this year. As per reports floating around the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) could shift the six-nation competition to Sri Lanka from Pakistan.
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has now urged India to the nation, citing examples of teams like England, Australia, and New Zealand. In a video shared by Cricket Pakistan, Ahmed, who guided Pakistan to a memorable ICC Champions Trophy 2017 win over India, said that Pakistan should not appeal to teams to come and play, and that people want to see Indo-Pak encounter on their home soil.
Here's what Ahmed said
Every team is coming to Pakistan. We should not appeal (to teams to come and play in Pakistan), it is our right that cricket comes to Pakistan. The Pakistan players and PCB has struggled a lot to bring cricket back in the nation. Our security forces, intelligence unit and army personnel have played a crucial role in bringing cricket back to Pakistan.
I think India should come to play in Pakistan and every team that has come here and played should support Pakistan. The way we host teams, there would hardly be any country in the world that would match us."
It will be interesting to see how things unfold given the recent turn of events surrounding former PM Imran Khan's arrest, which has seen protest take place in Pakistan across several cities.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi is due to meet ACC chairman Jay Shah this week.
 "Vishal Mehra")
