Imran Khan Takes Dig At Indian Government, Rules Out Possibility of India-Pakistan Series

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that India and Pakistan can’t play a bilateral series at the moment. The bilateral relations between the two neighbours is at an all time low. With Pakistan government failing to stop cross-border terrorism, Indian government has suspended all of its ties with them.

The arch-rivals have not played a full bilateral Test series since 2007 when Pakistan visited India for three Tests and five One-Day Internationals. They played a short series of three ODIs and two T20s in India in December 2012, but otherwise, both have faced each other only in the ICC organised events or the Asia Cup.

India and Pakistan last locked horns in the 2019 World Cup when the Men in Blue thrashed the Men in Green. The chances of resumption of bilateral series between the two countries is looking bleak at the moment and Imran Khan has further clarified it.

‘Terrible atmosphere’:

The former Pakistan skipper said that the atmosphere at the ground will be terrible if Pakistan and India take on each other at present. Imran Khan further recalled the two series that he played in India and how the fans reacted. He recalled the hostility received by the Pakistan players during one of the tours.

“I played two series in India. One in 1979 when the two governments were trying to come close. I can’t tell you how wonderful the atmosphere was on the cricket field. Big crowds,” Imran Khan said on the Out Of Exile documentary on Sky Sports.

“The next time I went was in 1987 and this time, there was tension between the two governments I saw hostility in India which I had never seen before. Our players were being pelted from the ground and I made them wear helmets while fielding at the boundary. It wasn’t a very good atmosphere on certain grounds,” he added.

The World Cup-winning captain then went on to state that he was surprised to see Pakistani fans’ reaction after India won the series in Pakistan in 2005. And he concluded by taking a dig at the present Indian government as he that a bilateral series between the two countries with the present government in power is impossible.

“When India came to Pakistan in 2005, again the governments were trying to get close. I never thought I would see on a cricket ground what happened. Pakistan lost to India in Pakistan and the crowds cheered the Indian team. Great atmosphere.

“Right now, playing cricket in this atmosphere with this sort of a government in power, I would imagine it would be a terrible atmosphere on the cricket ground.

“There’s nothing quite like the Ashes for the English. But Pakistan-India series is just in a different league in terms of tension, pressure, and enjoyment,” he added.

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