MULTAN: As the Asia Cup kicks off in Multan on Wednesday with the hosts taking on minnows Nepal, Pakistanis felt “disappointed” over the Indian team’s decision to stay away from Pakistan’s shores.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan mean the two South Asian rivals only play each other at international tournaments. The last time the Indian cricket team arrived in Pakistan was in 2008 for the 50-over Asia Cup tournament.
India’s refusal to play on Pakistani soil forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to settle for a “hybrid model” according to which only four of the 13 Asia Cup matches would be played in Pakistan. The other nine would be played in Sri Lanka.
Since gaining independence from British colonial India in 1047, India and Pakistan have fought three wars against each other. However, the people of the two cricket-mad nations have immense respect for each other’s cricket stars and an India-Pakistan match is always a big-ticket spectacle. Often, it is one of the biggest and most watched events in the global sporting calendar.
“India is our neighbor and we harbor positive feelings for them,” Muhammad Tariq, a 28-year-old shop owner, told Arab News at the Hussain Agahi Market, one of Multan’s busiest marketplaces.
“Had they come to Multan, we would have been happy to see them in action,” he said. “But if they didn’t come, then it is their wish. We can’t force anyone.”
“It’s disappointing that they did not come to Pakistan,” Ahmed, 31, the owner of a sports shop, told Arab News. “We wanted the entire Asia Cup to take place in Pakistan and watch Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bat here [in Pakistan]. They also have a lot of good bowlers.”
Muhammad Raza Baqir, the owner of another sports shop, welcomed the fact that the Asia Cup opener was taking place in Multan.
However, he said people were also facing hardships due to the stringent security measures taken by authorities.
“It’s good that these sports events are taking place in Multan and they also have a positive effect on our businesses,” he said. “But when the administration closes roads [due to security], it creates hardships for people.”
Like others too, Baqir was also looking forward to the Indian cricket squad playing in Pakistan.
“Our stakeholders, however, should think about this: if a country does not want to tour you, despite the fact that you invited them as guests, there is some fault in us for sure,” he said.
While Sharma and Babar Azam’s team may not square off on Pakistani soil, India and Pakistan will lock horns against each other on September 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
The two teams may even face each other thrice in the tournament if they make it to the final.
And Ahmed wants just that.
“We are praying that Pakistan and India face each other in the final,” Ahmed said with a grin. “And I hope Pakistan wins.”
