Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf has found himself in a hot soup after he called India a ‘dushman Mulk (enemy country)’, a day after the Pakistan team arrived in Hyderabad ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023 which begins in India on October 5.

The Pakistan side led by Babar Azam, arrived in Hyderabad via Dubai and got a rousing welcome from the crowd and officials gathered at the airport to receive them. They were welcomed in a proper Indian traditional manner.

It was the first time since 2016 that a Pakistan cricket team stepped foot on Indian soil. The bilateral relations between India and Pakistan were suspended after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which involved ending cricket ties as well.

Since then India and Pakistan played only one bilateral series in 2012-13. But after that, the two sides have met in ICC and ACC events only.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani team players were overwhelmed by the reception they got in Hyderabad and shared their reactions on social media.

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But, on the other hand, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf scored an own goal. He made an indirect reference to India as "Dushman Mulk" while interacting with media persons to announce the unprecedented hike in the match fees and remuneration to the players.

He added that this was done so the players’ morale remains high while they are playing in "Enemy Country” or wherever this tournament is being played in a not so veiled reference to India which is hosting the ICC World Cup 2023.

"Players hain inka morale upar rehna chahiye jab ye kisi dushman mulk ya kisi bhi jagah khelne jaayen jahan wo competition ho raha hosoto they should go with the full support of the nation aur unko ek achche tarike se perform kar saken. (You should keep in mind that when the players go to an enemy country or where the competition is being held, you should support them so that they can perform well),” PCB chief can be heard saying in a video.