Play Bilateral Series Or Cut Off All Ties With Pakistan: Shoaib Akhtar To India

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has advocated a bilateral series between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. The two cricketing nations have not locked horns together in a bilateral series since 2012. The only time India and Pakistan play against each other in recent times is in an ICC event or a multi-nation tournament.

Recently, former India and Pakistan all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi vouched for a bilateral series between India and Pakistan and Afridi went on to say that this could be bigger than the Ashes.

It’s important for the two teams to play a bilateral series: Shoaib Akhtar

However, this seems an unlikely event as political tensions between India and Pakistan just seem to be on the rise with time and neither country’s diplomats are ready for a bilateral series.

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Shoaib Akhtar Demands an India-Pakistan Bilateral Series

Akhtar said, “We can trade with each other, play kabaddi, play Davis Cup but why can’t we play cricket? If India do not want to come to Pakistan and Pakistan don’t want to go to India then a bilateral series can be played at a neutral venue like the Asia Cup.”

He further went on to add that India and Pakistan seem to do everything but play cricket together. When it comes to cricket, politics always interferes.

“If India and Pakistan can’t play cricket, they should not trade, play kabaddi or do anything between them. Politics is played whenever it’s about cricket between India and Pakistan. It’s important for the two teams to play a bilateral series as it raises great revenue, increases fan following and new players emerge by soaking in the pressure,” he added.

With international cricket returning back to Pakistan, Akhtar has called for the two neighbouring countries to resolve their differences on the cricket pitch.

Pakistan recently hosted Sri Lanka in a T20I and Test series at home while Bangladesh also travelled to the country to play a three-match T20I series with the Men in Green.

The series against both countries were hosted smoothly and Akhtar believes Pakistan is safe to play for any international team.

However, he insisted that both India and Pakistan should agree on a neutral venue and keep their differences aside.

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