"The fun of watching an India-Pakistan game is something else" : Wasim Akram

[hadi123]

Some comments from the legendary Pakistani all-rounder Wasim Akram:

"Don't think the ICC has enough power to pursue BCCI in the matter of refusal to play cricket with Pakistan"

"But as I have always said, people to people contact is very important (in the India-Pakistan sports relations); politics needs to be kept separate from sport"

"The fun of watching an India-Pakistan game is something else"

"How many people watch Ashes? 20 million? An India-Pakistan game is watched by a billion people"

"Imagine the pressure of such games; I have grown as a player due to these matches"

"It is sad for the people of the younger generation that India and Pakistan are not playing as that game has its own charm

 

[Ali-Imran519]

To be honest,pakistan and india match has a seperate and exotic feeling wherever these two cricket mad nations sit to watch on a Tv.At present,I am one of those people who have not seen much of these kind of matches.My opinion to icc is to not to approach pak-inda matches as a source of great money but as a love between billions of people to support each teams.As Wasim Akram has said and many have said before that,pakistan and india are the soul to cricket because cricket is the foremost sport to be watched.From the political point of view,pakistan and india both have to have their cricket boards do their work aside asking from both governments because i see them not contributing to the peace of both lands.it is well said that cricket should be kept away from politics and it should happen so like that

 

[deems]

How many former or current Indian players say the same.. they see it as another game.. Our Pakistani players and administration cannot go a press conference without mentioning the Indian bilateral ties issues..

Focus on your cricket at all levels

 

[MenInG]

This forum is a testament to the fact that there is tremendous interest in India/Pak games.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Captain Obvious strikes again.

Wasim's had these comments on repeat since he retired.

 

[classic]

Let it go Bhai .. I would only get excited if the same was being mentioned from the other side. Just concentrate on your cricket and when ever they meet give them a good thrashing . It makes not playing India for the rest of the year so much more worth it this way.

 

[MenInG]

SHARJAH: Pakistani cricket legend Wasim Akram said that India is a part of him in many ways and that he misses going to the country. The “King of Swing” was addressing a hall full of fans and sports enthusiasts on the final Thursday of the 36th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF).

“Politics has its own place, but India is a part of me in so many ways. I miss the culture there, the food… my friends. I have taught a lot of Indian bowlers and we all share very good relations,” he said, to applause.

“You see, I am a sportsman and for me players across the world are just that, players. If someone asks me for bowling tips, I won’t ask their nationality, that is not my job. I will coach them regardless,” he added.

The cricket star and national pacer, who is considered one of the finest exponents of reverse-swing bowling ever, talked with the audience about the game, his fight with diabetes and his love for reading.

“I am amazed to see so many young readers, so many kids at SIBF. This shows that people are still interested in books. One thing that I really liked was the cookery show for kids - they were all shouting with excitement. It was amazing.”

Akram, who took time to tour the fair and purchased some books, said: “I enjoyed it because I like reading. I was like a kid in a candy shop.”

When asked if he was planning to write another book to follow his autobiography published in 1998, Akramsaid: “I really want to write something else because a lot of good things have happened since my retirement. My wife Shameera is motivating me to do it. I have to plan it - I don’t want to just write a book about dressing room gossip, I want to write a book that motivates others… a book where people can take inspiration from my life’s journey.”

Talking about the changes he has seen as a cricket celebrity in terms of technology, he said, “In my time we had autographs, now we have selfies. I still think autographs were better. Even I had an autograph book as a kid, I collected all the names of the cricket greats and that was so much fun.”

Akram, who was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 30, is known for raising awareness about the condition in Pakistan and across the world.

“We lack awareness about diabetes - it is very important we raise more awareness to be able to fight it,” he said during the session.

Akram was one of the 393 guests from 48 countries taking part in SIBF 2017, which concludes today (Saturday) at Expo Centre Sharjah. Titled “A World in My Book”, this year’s edition of the world’s third largest book fair saw the participation of 1,650 publishing houses from 60 countries.

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/d75a0c2e-0596-45a0-a0ad-ecd4596edc14.aspx

 

[Hitman]

What annoys me is when people who don't even watch or follow cricket start lecturing how India shouldn't play Pakistan at any cost.

 

[RamLakhan]

In the past even BCCI was keen to have cricket with Pakistan and seeing it as a money making prospect. But things have changed. BCCI has grown up a lot and cricketing sense of Indian crowd has changed especially after the advent of IPL. (Probably if there was no IPL, BCCI would have thought of playing Pakistan at least in neutral venue to bring that additional money to their pocket!) Also Indian fans are somewhat satisfied (not fully though) at the occasional meetup between the two teams in WC & other encounters, probably the buildup to that match & rarity brings that additional charm/expectation.

Pakistan should get over this and concentrate on their job of rebuilding international cricket in their country instead. What one should understand is that these bilaterals are not just sports but also a kind of friendly relationship between the two countries/boards! (Like you have the name Border-Gavaskar trophy) As there is lots of tension between the two nations, it puts unnecessary pressure and controversy to have such friendly sports between the two (because cricket is followed by huge masses in both countries). But still India/BCCI has never boycotted/avoided any chance of playing Pakistan in WC & other multi-national championships. In fact we had a match in Mohali.

Having said that things can change in future for good, like we had nice share of bilaterals 2000s. Before that again there was a dull period. So things can change... Instead of asking for direct bilaterals (including playing in Sharjah) Pakistan can look for arrangement of tri-series in places like Australia/England/South Africa requesting the respective boards, probably everyone will be interested for the kind of revenue it brings out in return....

 

[Benchwarmer]

If Pakistan goes on to become a world class,destructive team in the coming years.BCCI would invite Pakistan on its own because 1) There would be tremendous pressure from fans in India to play the best team in the world as You can't call yourself the best if you do don't beat the best team around
2)BCCI can use it's connection in govt. to allow the cricket matches at neutral venues if they REALLY want to play Pakistan.

 

[English August]

Some comments from the legendary Pakistani all-rounder Wasim Akram:

"Don't think the ICC has enough power to pursue BCCI in the matter of refusal to play cricket with Pakistan"

"But as I have always said, people to people contact is very important (in the India-Pakistan sports relations); politics needs to be kept separate from sport"

"The fun of watching an India-Pakistan game is something else"

"How many people watch Ashes? 20 million? An India-Pakistan game is watched by a billion people"

"Imagine the pressure of such games; I have grown as a player due to these matches"

"It is sad for the people of the younger generation that India and Pakistan are not playing as that game has its own charm

Yawn. When would all these people stop talking nonsense and realize that re-starting Ind-Pak cricket is a complete non-topic in India?

Why compare only Ashes with Ind-Pak? How about Ind-Australia? I'd any day watch an Ind-Aus game over Ind-Pak game. India-Australia has been *the* rivalry in cricket over the past 25 years.

 

[mak36]

Yawn. When would all these people stop talking nonsense and realize that re-starting Ind-Pak cricket is a complete non-topic in India?

Why compare only Ashes with Ind-Pak? How about Ind-Australia? I'd any day watch an Ind-Aus game over Ind-Pak game. India-Australia has been *the* rivalry in cricket over the past 25 years.

That's why the stadiums were half empty.

 

[Syed1]

Captain Obvious strikes again.

Wasim's had these comments on repeat since he retired.

Yes when somebody asks Wasim about India-Pakistan matches he should just look out in space and act deaf and dumb because some poster on PP will mind it

 

[QalandarFan]

Yes they are out of this world, it's to bad we do not get to see them play in bilateral's any more. I am dying to see an India-Pakistan Test!

 

[Snow]

I never understand logic behind not playing? Who would benefit from not play

 

[English August]

That's why the stadiums were half empty.

Crowds in stadiums tell you almost nothing about the level of interest. It's all about TV ratings.

If you're so interested in tracking the crowds, do look at the crowds watching Tests the last time India traveled to Pakistan. Those Tests were watched by the proverbial 3 men and a dog. Rahul Dravid and Sehwag (yes, Sehwag, world's most exciting batsman back then) put on something like 400 runs for the first wicket in front of an almost empty stadium.

So much for interest in India Pak games. Duh.

If we go by your criteria, there is ***zero*** interest in India Pak games.

 

[English August]

I never understand logic behind not playing? Who would benefit from not play

Sport has always been used to make a political point. I have a simple question for you. Why didn't Pakistan send their hockey team for Moscow Olympics in 1980?

Will Pakistan agree to play in Israel if there was some tournament?