Pakistan cricket need to play India to survive: Former cricketer Atul Wassan on Asia Cup clash
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Former Cricketer Atul Wassan on India-Pakistan Asia Cup Clash: A ‘Necessary Evil’ Amid Backlash
Gurugram, Haryana: The heated India-Pakistan match at the Asia Cup in Dubai has sparked massive outrage, especially after the tragic terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists on April 22. Pakistan-sponsored terrorists carried out the attack in the name of religion, fueling demands for India to boycott the fixture. Stepping into the debate, former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan calls playing Pakistan a tough but unavoidable choice – what he terms a "necessary evil."
Wassan points to India’s bigger goals, like bidding for the 2036 Olympics. "I thought for two months that India would never play Pakistan," he told . "But with the Olympics bid and all these sports permutations, this match is happening. It’s Pakistan cricket’s good luck – they need India to survive. From our country’s view, we should have nothing to do with them."
Government Policy Shapes India’s Stance on Pakistan Matches
The Indian government recently updated its rules on sports involving Pakistan. Now, Indian teams and athletes can join international events with Pakistani players, but India won’t play in Pakistan or any bilateral series. Wassan says this policy makes the Asia Cup clash a smart, strategic move, not just about cricket.
He dismisses claims that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is chasing money. Last month, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray slammed BCCI for not boycotting, hinting at financial motives. But Wassan disagrees: "This is the Prime Minister’s and government’s call for multinational events. It’s not about cash – it’s a bigger plan. People are wrong to blame BCCI for profits."
Players Urged to Keep It Professional, No Smiles or Handshakes
Tensions boiled over after India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav shook hands with Pakistan’s Salman Agha and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi (who’s also Pakistan’s interior minister) at a press conference in Dubai. Fans online trolled Yadav for the gesture. Wassan advises players to stay stone-faced: "Just snuff them out – no smiles, no acknowledgments, no handshakes, no applause. Do your job. We don’t want to play, but we have to for the positives."
India-Pakistan Cricket Rivalry: Will It Be One-Sided?
Wassan believes cutting ties completely would end Pakistan cricket as we know it. "If India stops playing them in any tournament, their board and team won’t survive. India doesn’t need it," he adds. On the pitch, he’s confident India will dominate. Even if we send our B-team, we’ll win easily, thanks to our deep talent pool and strong cricket ecosystem.
"Anything can happen in T20 cricket, but we’re way superior," Wassan says. "Pakistan isn’t a real challenge like Australia, England, or South Africa. This Asia Cup 2023 match won’t be competitive – it’ll be one-sided for India."
As the India vs Pakistan rivalry heats up, fans are divided between national pride and sporting spirit. With the game set for Sunday in Dubai, all eyes are on how Team India handles this high-stakes Asia Cup encounter.
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