Finding himself in a lot of trouble for his ill-time “Dushman Mulk” (enemy nation) remark on India recently, while Pakistan received a warm welcome in India for the World Cup 2023, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf released a statement.
A day after the Pakistan squad landed in Hyderabad, India for the ICC World Cup 2023, Zaka Ashraf, while addressing the press to announce the unprecedented hike in the match fees and remuneration to the players, made a regrettable remark on India.
He said that the hike in match fees of Pakistan players will ensure their morale is high while they are playing in "Dushman Mulk (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.
CWC 2023: Pakistan players get emotional after witnessing such grand welcome in India
“Players hain inka morale upar rehna chahiye jab ye kisi dushman mulk ya kisi bhi jagah khelne jaayen jahan wo competition ho raha ho, so 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),” he can be seen saying in a viral video.
Now to do damage control, PCB Management Committee head Zaka Ashraf has said that the fantastic reception of the Pakistan men’s cricket team in India for the World Cup proves how much love the people of both countries have for each other's players. This love was evident by the reception arranged at the Hyderabad airport.
He also congratulated the Indians for arranging a reception of this kind for the Pakistani team. This was the first time since 2016 that Pakistan visited India for cricket.
Ashraf also mentioned that whenever India and Pakistan step onto the cricket field, they emerge as traditional rivals but not as enemies.
Furthermore, he stated that historically whenever the Pakistan men’s cricket team has visited India, they have received a warm and cordial reception, just as Indian teams have been welcomed in Pakistan.
This is because cricket is a sport that has always played a bridging role between the two nations, and cricketers from both countries have remained popular in and well-loved by fans in both India and Pakistan.
Ashraf also mentioned that India and Pakistan cricket has been the center of attention globally. This is the reason cricketing ties between the two nations are considered to be more significant than other contests.
He further hopes that bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan so that millions of fans from both countries have the opportunity to watch these players perform live. He concluded by expressing his hope that the Indian cricket team would also visit Pakistan soon, enabling Pakistan to reciprocate the warmth and love shown by India to the Pakistan cricket team.
(PCB inputs)
