Former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan has stated that if the Indian team does not come for the Champions Trophy next year, Pakistan should also refrain from sending its team to any event in India.
In an exclusive interview with Pakistan cricket’s leading website www.cricketpakistan.com.pk, Moin Khan said that former Indian cricketers like Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Venkatesh Prasad should advise their board to not let politics interfere with the game.
It is not just these two countries but people of Pakistani and Indian origin worldwide who want to see their teams play against each other.
If the Indian team participates in the Champions Trophy, it would benefit not only Pakistan but cricket as a whole.
India will have to change its tradition of not sending its team to Pakistan; otherwise, what role does the ICC play if it can’t ensure its events are committed to? If the Indian team does not come, Pakistan should also refrain from sending its team to any future tournaments in India.
Regarding Pakistan’s recent string of failures, Moin Khan remarked that Pakistan’s cricket history has been illustrious with many major tournaments and series victories.
However, it is disheartening to see the current situation. Unlike past stars, there are no prominent cricketers now, which has led to a decline in the team’s performance.
He noted that the issues seem to lie with the players. A good player always strives to improve their performance, leading to success.
With the rise of T20 cricket, players’ focus has shifted more towards this shorter format where there are higher financial rewards, resulting in less attention to cricket skills and leading to consecutive failures.