Pakistan ought to cease enjoying cricket with India, says Rashid Latif

India’s captain Rohit Sharma and Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam throughout the toss throughout the 2023 ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup. File
| Photograph Credit score: DEEPAK KR

Former wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif says if had the facility he wouldn’t let Pakistan play in opposition to India in any match and likewise advised that ICC shouldn’t grant the internet hosting rights of world occasions to each international locations till they resolve their points.

The BCCI has refused to ship its workforce to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy and there’s hypothesis that the complete match might be moved in a foreign country.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) asking for written affirmation from the BCCI for India’s incapability to journey to Pakistan for the match.

“There is a huge chance that Pakistan can cease enjoying cricket in opposition to India. Had I been in energy, then, sure, I’ll have taken this robust step. I’d not blame anybody for this. For those who do not wish to play (in Pakistan), then do not play in opposition to us (in any respect),” Latif, recognized for his plain communicate, instructed PTI Movies.

“If I’d have been there, I’d have taken this determination, and fought in opposition to the BCCI.” He advised that the ICC also needs to cease giving main tournaments to each India and Pakistan until points are resolved.

“In my view, ICC ought to withhold the internet hosting rights for each international locations till these points between them are resolved; till their issues are settled,” stated the previous wicketkeeper-batter who performed 37 Exams and 166 ODIs.

Touching upon the problem of political interference in cricket, notably in Asia, Latif referred to the ban imposed on Sri Lanka (in 2023) and Zimbabwe (in 2019) by the ICC and questioned why the worldwide physique was lenient in the direction of India and Pakistan.

The ICC had suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in November final yr for alleged political interference within the administration of the game within the nation. The suspension was lifted in January this yr.

“Why aren’t India and Pakistan getting banned? As a result of, ICC has numerous stake on them,” he stated.

The previous cricketer criticised BCCI’s stance relating to safety issues for the Indian workforce in Pakistan, saying the ICC’s safety workforce had assessed his nation and deemed it protected.

“That is the primary time, I’d say, the BCCI is at fault. The rationale they’re stating could be very weak. It must be in writing that the BCCI and the Indian cricket workforce is feeling threatened.

“The ICC safety workforce got here right here and gave the inexperienced gentle for the match. For those who had points, you may have reported to them,” he stated.

On whether or not Pakistan will withdraw from the Champions Trophy if the match is shifted elsewhere, the veteran stated, “No person has seen it on paper. It must be written down on a chunk of paper. We had a phrase with the PCB (and) they stated they’ve despatched an e-mail to the Pakistan authorities relating to this. It is a critical authorized subject, no person is prepared to provide it in writing.”

Latif was assured that lack of matches with India wouldn’t hamper Pakistan cricket’s progress.

“We did not play at dwelling for 12 lengthy years. What might be extra painful than that? Pakistan will get the 34 million {dollars} in each eight-year time (from ICC), whether or not they play India or not. The boards which might be wealthy will endure losses, not a board like PCB that does not have the cash.

“Pakistan can survive enjoying bilateral collection even when they do not play main ICC tournaments.”