Published 12:45 IST, November 20th 2019
Australia-England won't like Mushtaq Ahmed's massive India-Pak cricket claim
Former Pakistan cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed has made a startling claim about the rivalry on the field between Team India and Pakistan & has compared it to the Ashes
Former Pakistan cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed has made a startling claim about the rivalry on the field between Team India and Pakistan and has compared it to one of the most exciting series in the world. Talking about the highly competitive nature of cricket between the two countries, Mushtaq Ahmed said claimed that the rivalry was bigger than the Ashes. International cricket recently returned to terror-prone Pakistan ten long years after the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists in Lahore in 2019. In the backdrop of the lack of security and safety, not just cricket but other sports have also moved out of Pakistan.
Mushtaq Ahmed makes a huge claim on the rivalry
The former Pakistan cricketer believes that the level of competition between India and Pakistan is extremely high and that it would surpass the rivalry between Australia and England. Mushtaq Ahmed said that both Indian and Pakistan fans loved to watch their countries play against each other and that it brings 'joy and happiness' to the fans. Talking about how cricket can be a possible means of mending ties with each other, Mushtaq Ahmed claimed that the game brought the two nations closer.
The Davis Cup controversy surrounding Pakistan
Former tennis ace and India's non-playing Davis Cup captain Mahesh Bhupathi had written to the AITA earlier, raising security concerns for the players traveling to Pakistan and seeking clarity on the same. This came amid flaring tensions between India and Pakistan, with the former boycotting the latter and not sending the teams to play there over security issues. Bilateral series of any sport between India and Pakistan was suspended over Pakistan-backed terrorism and it's involvement in terror attacks on India. However, the AITA had earlier maintained that the Home Ministry and the Sports Ministry did not raise an objection with the venue of the tie. However, AITA decided to seek ITF's intervention to shift the venue to a neutral venue, citing security concerns and possible threats to the lives of the players.
Updated 12:58 IST, November 20th 2019