Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup winning captain and ex-PM Imran Khan has come down heavily on India and BCCI for being arrogant and trying to isolate Pakistani cricketers and called the cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan, a "sad affair."
His words come in middle of a tussle between PCB and BCCI as they are deadlocked about the Asia Cup hosting as the Indian board is sticking to its stand of not sending the Indian team to Pakistan for the Asian tournament, while Pakistani board retaliated by threatening to not play in the World Cup which is to be hosted in India.
Now reports suggested that India might play their Asia Cup matches at a neutral venue, while Pakistan hosts the remainder of matches. In response to this, PCB has reportedly asked for the same arrangement for the World Cup 2023, as they want to play their matches in either Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan has accused India of behaving arrogantly and acting as if they are a superpower in world cricket. He also accused BCCI of choosing countries to play against based on their ability to generate revenue for world cricket.
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"The cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan is a sad affair. India behaves arrogantly as if they are super power in world cricket. BCCI pick and choose whom they want to play because India has ability to generate a lot of money in world cricket due to which they behave arrogantly like a super power,” Imran was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
He also spoke on the comparison between the IPL and PSL and said that BCCI targeted Pakistani cricketers by not allowing them to play in the IPL, calling it a display of arrogance.
Imran then pointed out that Pakistan has its own quality T20 league, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which also attracts foreign cricketers.
"BCCI is targeting Pakistani cricketers, which is a display of arrogance. However, Pakistan cricket now has it’s own quality T20 league [PSL] where foreign cricketers play. If India doesn't allow Pakistan to play IPL then Pakistan should not worry about it because Pakistan itself has quality young cricketers," he concluded.
