As Imran Khan Announces Pakistan to Release IAF Pilot Abhinandan; Shoaib Akhtar Endorses #SayNoToWar

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has announced the country will release IAF pilot, Abhinandan on Friday (March 1st) as a gesture of peace. In the wake of the Pulwama attack, where more than 42 CRPF personals got martyred; the tensions between both the countries escalated. The repercussions followed, as India retaliated by bombing Jaish-eh-Mohammad’s camps in Balakot. As a result, the cross-border firing began; India and Pakistan further breached the LOC.

Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar has endorsed the idea of Imran Khan opting for peace over war with India. On Twitter, the veteran Pakistan shared the news quoting,

“Indian Airforce Pilot Abhinandan will be freed tomorrow as a gesture of peace” Announced by Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI in the National Assembly. #PakistanZindabad#SayNoToWar

"Indian Airforce Pilot Abhinandan will be freed tomorrow as a gesture of peace"
Announced by Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI in the National Assembly. #PakistanZindabad #SayNoToWar

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) February 28, 2019

Situation still not at ease at the border

Even though Imran Khan, on Wednesday, put forward his thoughts of not looking deep into the war; the Indian government didn’t respond to the same. Also, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Geo News Pakistan is ready to release Abhinandan only if it means the tensions will boil down.

Meanwhile, on the cricketing terms, both India and Pakistan are uncertain over the 2019 World Cup match. As per schedule, Manchester on June 16th will host the clash between two Asian giants.

However, the ground reality is a bit different. Earlier, the Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) had asked the BCCI to write to the ICC about urging the other countries not to play Pakistan at the World Cup. The governing body is though yet to take a call on the same.

Sachin, Sunil, Vaughan believe the match should go ahead

Off the many dignities and the former players who had asked India to boycott Pakistan at the mega event, a few of the others had shared a different thought. Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar and Michael Vaughan are among them who believe the match should ahead as per schedule.