Written by Vaibhav Tripathi
Javed Miandad, Pakistan cricket legend who played in the first six World Cups, has said that Pakistan should boycott the upcoming World Cup in India, given that an Indian team has not toured Pakistan in nearly 15 years.
According to a draft of the proposed World Cup schedule, Pakistan are to play India at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on October 15. Their other nine games are to be divided between Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata.
India’s last visit to Pakistan was in 2008 during the Asia Cup. Bilateral cricket ties have been suspended since then due to enduring political tension between the two nations.
“Pakistan has been to India in 2012 and even in 2016 [for the World T20], now it is the turn of the Indians to come here,” said Miandad, addressing reporters. “If I had to make a decision, I would never go to India to play any match, even the World Cup. We are always ready to play them (India), but they never respond in the same manner.
“Pakistan cricket is bigger…we are still producing quality players. So, I don’t think even if we don’t go to India, it will make any difference to us.”