Controversial Stance: Rashid Latif Urges Pakistan to Boycott Cricket Matches Against India.
In a bold and contentious statement, former Pakistani wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif has called for his country to stop playing cricket against India, amid the ongoing tensions surrounding the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament.
Latif’s comments come in the wake of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) refusal to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, leading to speculation that the entire tournament could be moved out of the country.
Speaking to PTI Videos, Latif, known for his outspoken nature, did not mince words. “There’s a big possibility that Pakistan can stop playing cricket against India.
The former cricketer also criticized the BCCI’s stance regarding security concerns for the Indian team in Pakistan, stating that the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) security team had already given the green light for the tournament.
“The ICC security team came here and gave the green light for the tournament. If you had issues, you could have reported to them,” Latif said, questioning the validity of the BCCI’s reasoning.
Latif’s comments touch on the broader issue of political interference in cricket, particularly in the Asian subcontinent. He drew parallels to the ICC’s suspensions of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, questioning why the global body has been more lenient towards India and Pakistan.
“Why aren’t India and Pakistan getting banned? Because ICC has a lot of stake on them,” Latif said, highlighting the perceived double standards.
The former cricketer expressed confidence that Pakistan can survive without playing a bilateral series against India, stating that the country can still generate revenue from ICC tournaments, even if they do not face their arch-rivals.
“Pakistan can survive playing bilateral series even if they don’t play major ICC tournaments,” Latif said, underscoring his belief that Pakistan’s cricket progress would not be hampered by the lack of matches against India.
Latif’s bold stance is likely to stir up further controversy and debate within the cricketing community, as the tensions between India and Pakistan continue to overshadow the sport.
