Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal expresses his optimism regarding the upcoming India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match slated for February 15 in Colombo. Despite Pakistan’s announcement to boycott the Group A encounter, Iqbal believes that reason will ultimately prevail. “I remain hopeful that the match will proceed as planned,” he shared with mid-day. Iqbal expressed astonishment at how the situation has intensified, attributing it to a “lack of communication.” He emphasized that open dialogue could resolve any issues. Iqbal cautioned that not having these two cricketing giants face off would negatively impact the sport’s popularity. “Cricket isn’t played by many nations, and if India and Pakistan don’t compete, it will hurt the game’s appeal,” he remarked. Reflecting on the controversy, he pointed to an incident during the Asia Cup in Dubai where India declined to shake hands with Pakistan. “We need to address the root causes,” he stated, insisting that the ICC should have intervened earlier. “The controversy began with the handshake snub, and the ICC should have taken action against India for it. It’s unacceptable for the ICC head, Jay Shah, to support his own country in this matter,” Iqbal lamented, having played in 58 Tests and 10 ODIs. He asserted that strict handling of the handshake incident could have prevented the current predicament. Nonetheless, Iqbal maintained that Pakistan cannot seek an easy way out. “Pakistan must not evade responsibility, and the ICC should remain neutral. Both sides should recognize that this controversy tarnishes the reputation of the sport,” he concluded.
