Odi World Cup: Zaka Ashraf does volte-face on controversial ‘Dushman Mulk’ comment, calls Indian reception ‘fantastic’ | Cricket News
Pakistan arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday of their first go to to India in seven years.
On the identical day, the PCB introduced a rise in pay for its gamers. Following the announcement, Ashraf acknowledged that the increase in central contracts would supply added motivation to the gamers as they head into the World Cup in ‘enemy nation’.
The millionaire banker’s unfastened feedback went viral and it definitely did not go down effectively with the bigwigs of BCCI and on Friday, he clarified his stance.
“Chairman PCB’s Administration Committee, Zaka Ashraf, has acknowledged that the implausible reception of the Pakistan males’s cricket staff in India for the World Cup proves how a lot love the individuals of each international locations have for one another’s gamers,” the PCB mentioned in a press release.
Sensing that his “enemy nation” feedback might have deeper implications, Ashraf was fast to distance himself from his earlier remark.
“This love was evident by the reception organized on the Hyderabad airport. Zaka Ashraf personally congratulated the Indians over arranging a reception of this type. He talked about that each time India and Pakistan step onto the cricket discipline, they emerge as conventional rivals however not as enemies,” it acknowledged.
The 2 groups play one another in ICC occasions and Asia Cup because of the tense relations between the 2 international locations. The gamers nonetheless get alongside effectively with one another. Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf had been left overwhelmed with the welcome at Hyderabad airport.
Ashraf is predicted to attend the blockbuster India-Pakistan conflict in Ahmedabad on October 14.
“Chairman Administration Committee additionally emphasised that cricket between Pakistan and India have all the time been the centre of world consideration which is why cricket between the 2 international locations is taken into account extra important than the opposite contests on this sport.”
The assertion additionally talked about about beginning bilateral ties as soon as once more however India’s subsequent five-year FTP calendar would not have area for a sequence with subsequent door neighbours.
“He (Ashraf) expressed his want for the restoration of bilateral cricketing relations between the 2 international locations, permitting thousands and thousands of cricket followers from each nations the chance to look at these gamers carry out reside.”
Ashraf concluded with expectation that Indian staff will journey to Pakistan quickly.
“He concluded by expressing his hope that the Indian cricket staff would additionally go to Pakistan quickly, enabling Pakistan to reciprocate the heat and love proven by India to the Pakistan cricket staff,” the assertion added.
Pakistan media more likely to get visas by Monday
Round 50 Pakistani journalists, who’ve utilized for the Indian visa to cowl the World Cup are possible get the clearance on Monday.
“The visas ought to come by Monday. So far as the followers are involved, it’s troublesome to inform what number of have utilized for the visa,” mentioned a PCB supply.
Pakistan cricket staff acquired their visas lower than 48 hours earlier than their journey to India, performed their first warm-up sport on Friday and their two predominant competitors video games within the metropolis shall be held on October 6 and October 10.
A visa software of a Pakistani nationwide takes extra time than ordinary because the nation is on India’s prior reference (PRC) listing.
(With inputs from PTI)
