Kamran Akmal, a former wicketkeeper-batter for Pakistan, is advocating for the Indian cricket team to visit Pakistan next year for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 which will take place in three venues – Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi from February 19 to March 9. It was in 2008 that India last visited Pakistan for the Asia Cup but since then relations between these countries have not been cordial enough to warrant an Indian cricket team tour.
As per Akmal who is 42 years old and traveled with Pakistani team during 2011 ODI World Cup as well as white-ball series in 2012-13, if teams such as Australia are able to travel to Pakistan then why not India? He believes that politics must be kept away from cricket matters.
“I think I’m fortunate for having toured India and participated in multiple series both at home as well as away. Those were good old days. It is time for India to tour Pakistan and vice versa. Let’s put aside all political issues and play cricket in love,” Akmal was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
“If Australia could come to Pakistan, then why not India too? There has to be an India-Pakistan bilateral series. The two governments must talk together on this issue because it is a boon to cricket,” he continued.
Kamran feels that if India do not go to Pakistan next year, then the ICC Champions Trophy will relocate elsewhere and he hopes BCCI does not allow that to happen.
“Pehle aapne Asia Cup le liya, ab Champions Trophy ki baatein kar rahe hain. Kyun kar rahe hain aap aisa? (First you took away the Asia Cup from Pakistan; now talking about the Champions Trophy, why?) … Pakistan has done a lot of hard work for bringing cricket back to our land. In case, India invites us, our government will never stop us from going there. They may say ‘go and play’. This is what Indian government should also do. Let’s keep politics aside and play cricket”.
The cricketer who has since retired and played in several india vs Pakistan matches appreciated the Indian fans and referred to them as ‘the best in the world.’
“India versus Pakistan matches unite fans. That’s why it is referred to as the mother of all clashes. We have toured India several times; there was so much love from India and unbelievable support we received. It is no secret that home teams always get support from their people but we also received similar assistance. Whenever I played or Pakistan team stepped out of hotels, it was the Indian crowd who showed us so much love, don’t you think? If you want to see any team play good cricket or have fun with the game, go to India! Indian supporters are best” Akmal remarked
