'Saath ghoomna theek, par match nahi?': Ex-pacer after IND vs PAK called off

NEW DELHI: "Public ke saamne yeh dikhate ho ki hum nahi khelenge, aur saath mein ghumoge and buying karoge, yeh unfair hai [You amusement the nationalist that you won’t play each other, but down the scenes you question unneurotic and spell buying — that’s unfair]," erstwhile Pakistan pacer Abdur Rauf Khan said scathingly aft the India Champions vs Pakistan Champions clash was cancelled successful the World Championship of Legends (WCL) successful Birmingham connected Sunday.The lucifer was scrapped aft societal media furore and yet players pulling retired for the contest. Those connected societal media questioned the hypocrisy of the players for changing tune little than 2 months aft cross-border tensions betwixt India and Pakistan pursuing the Pahalgam panic onslaught and Operation Sindoor. Rauf didn’t clasp backmost successful his disapproval of Indian players similar Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, questioning their nationalist stance versus their off-field camaraderie.

“They bent astir together, devour together, enactment unneurotic — past erstwhile it comes to playing a match, wherefore bash they represent a antithetic representation successful beforehand of the public?” Rauf asked."It’s not conscionable Pakistani players — adjacent Indian players consciousness it. We’ve played together, shared dressing rooms, eaten together, gone buying connected tours, stayed successful each other’s edifice rooms — we’re friends disconnected the field. To past represent specified a hard disagreement to the nationalist — similar 'we won’t play them' — that creates unnecessary hype," Rauf said.

"Behind the scenes, the world is precise different. The fans, who travel with truthful overmuch excitement and emotion, are near disappointed. It’s not a bully look for cricket. We beryllium amended to the crippled and its fans," helium added.India-Pakistan sporting relations had deed a roadblock owed to the fallout from the April onslaught successful Pahalgam.Shikhar Dhawan was the archetypal to marque his stance public. He posted a screenshot connected X stating: "This is to formally reiterate that Mr Shikhar Dhawan volition not beryllium participating successful immoderate matches against the Pakistan squad successful the upcoming WCL League...

In presumption of our existent geopolitical concern and prevailing tensions betwixt India and Pakistan, Mr Dhawan and his squad person taken this presumption aft owed consideration..."

Rauf, who represented Pakistan successful 3 Tests, 4 ODIs and 1 T20I, appealed for authorities to beryllium kept retired of cricket."My accordant presumption has been — support authorities and cricket separate. A twelvemonth oregon 2 of hostility whitethorn halt cricket, but erstwhile relations normalize, matches resume anyway.

So wherefore halt successful the archetypal place?... So yes, some governments should beryllium down and motion an statement that cricket and sports volition proceed careless of outer conditions. Political tensions whitethorn travel and go, but sports should not suffer," helium said.

"You can’t permanently unopen this down. Tensions mightiness past for a twelvemonth oregon two, but yet the countries reconnect. So wherefore halt sports successful the archetypal place?... That’s wherefore I judge determination should beryllium a wide model oregon statement ensuring continuity.

Political issues volition persist owed to geographical realities — but fto sports breathe. Let it flourish," helium added."The issues betwixt India and Pakistan person been long-standing. Sometimes they escalate, sometimes relations improve. When relations are good, cricket resumes. When tensions rise, everything is unopen down. Unfortunately, the fans are the ones who endure the most... I judge determination should beryllium a ceremonial statement that careless of governmental tensions, ICC-sanctioned events oregon bilateral tournaments should proceed uninterrupted," Rauf concluded.