Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal said he remains hopeful the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo will be played, warning that a boycott would damage cricket’s popularity and urging the ICC to act neutrally
Asif Iqbal
Former Pakistan skipper Asif Iqbal remains hopeful that the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo will be played. Pakistan recently said that they will boycott the Group A clash in Colombo.
“I’m still hopeful that good sense will prevail and the India-Pakistan match will be played as scheduled,” Iqbal told mid-day. Iqbal was surprised at how the issue has escalated and blamed it on a “lack of communication”, adding that “any problem can be resolved if both parties engage in a dialogue.” Iqbal warned that the arch-rivals not facing each other would deal a blow to cricket’s popularity. “Not many nations play cricket and if India and Pakistan don’t play against each other, the popularity of the game will take a jolt,” he said.
Tracing the controversy back to India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan during the Asia Cup in Dubai, Iqbal said, “We must go back to the roots,” adding that the ICC should have nipped the issue in the bud. “It all started when India refused to shake hands with Pakistan. The ICC should have nipped the controversy in the bud. How can India ignore a handshake? The ICC should have punished India. How can the ICC head [Jay Shah] support his own nation?” lamented Iqbal, who has played 58 Tests and 10 ODIs.
“If the ICC had handled the handshake issue strictly, the situation would not have reached this far,” he said. However, Iqbal asserted that Pakistan cannot take an escape route. “Pakistan cannot take the escape route. Similarly, the ICC should behave in a neutral manner. Both parties should realise this controversy is bad publicity for the game,” he concluded.
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