‘We’ll Be Fine If They Play Or Not’: Wasim Akram’s Blunt Take On India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Showdown (Source: AP/PTI)
Pakistan legend Wasim Akram said that the ‘game must go on’ whether India or Pakistan play each other in the Asia Cup or not. India and Pakistan are clubbed in Group A alongside the UAE and Oman. The teams are set to face each other on September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium.
The match is facing heavy backlash in India as fans have called for the complete end of all cricket ties with Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack. Recently, the India Champions refused to play the Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), and there is uncertainty over the Asia Cup clash between the two arch-rivals.
“Asia Cup schedule is out, there is backlash. But we in Pakistan are calm. We will be fine whether we play or don’t play. The game must go on,” Akram said on the Stick With Cricket Podcast.
Akram Wants India Vs Pakistan Test Series
Akram also said that he wants to see a Test series between India and Pakistan. The two teams have not played a bilateral series for more than a decade, and the last Test series between the arch-rivals dates back to 2007-08.
“I hope to see a Test series between India and Pakistan in my lifetime,” he said.
“Politics apart, I am not a politician. They are patriotic about their country; we are patriotic about ours. Let’s not go below the belt. Talk about the triumphs of your country; the same goes for Pakistan, and the same goes for India. “It is easier said than done.”
The Asia Cup will begin on September 9, with the final on September 29. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong are the four teams in Group B. The two top teams from each group will qualify for the Super 4s, which will be played in an a round-robin format, and the top two teams in the points table will play the final.