Indo-Pak matches bring people close to each other, says Shoaib Malik
Shoaib Malik has stated that cricket matches involving India and Pakistan are instrumental in bringing people of both the countries close to each other. The former Pakistani captain also emphasized on holding more Indo-Pak cricket matches which provides entertainment for the cricket lovers.
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will play each other in the upcoming Asian Games on September 19 and the 36-year-old is a part of the Pakistani squad. The bilateral ties between the two teams have been stopped because of political tensions and their continuous issues at the border. India met Pakistan in an ODI for the last time in the Champions Trophy final where the Indians suffered a huge loss. The last time a bilateral series that was played between the two countries was back in 2012-13 when the Men in Green toured India.
“It is in the benefit of all if both India and Pakistan play a maximum number of matches against each other as it brings entertainment not only for the people of India and Pakistan closer to each other,” said Malik, reported ANI.
“The cricketers of India and Pakistan are professionals and they want to give their best on the field against each other. And off the field, they like to behave like friends and we take meals together.”
Pakistan had announced their squad for the Asia Cup earlier this week and they decided to leave out all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez. Malik acknowledged Hafeez's exclusion and said that a player has to go through these issues in his career.
“As a cricketer, everybody faces such problems in their career. And the better way to deal with it is to perform on the domestic circuit and also to hold table-talk with the authorities concerned to have their [player’s] reservations if any exists, removed,” the former skipper said.
Malik said that the Pakistani players should not to take a lot of pressure during the Asia Cup game against India. He also informed that he might retire from ODI cricket after the 2019 World Cup but will continue playing T20 International matches till next World T20 scheduled to be played in 2020.
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