Former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif has expressed strong views on the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan in cricket. He believes that Pakistan should consider suspending all cricket matches against India and that the ICC should withhold hosting rights from both countries until their issues are resolved.
Latif’s comments come in the wake of the BCCI’s refusal to send its team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The PCB has written to the ICC seeking written confirmation from the BCCI regarding India’s inability to travel to Pakistan.
Latif believes that Pakistan should take a strong stance against India’s refusal to play in Pakistan. “If I would have been there, I would have taken this decision, and fought against the BCCI,” he said.
He also suggested that the ICC should stop giving major tournaments to both India and Pakistan until their issues are resolved. “In my opinion, ICC should withhold the hosting rights for both countries until these issues between them are resolved; until their problems are settled,” he said.
Latif criticized the BCCI’s stance regarding security concerns for the Indian team in Pakistan, saying that the ICC’s security team had assessed the country and deemed it safe. “This is the first time, I would say, the BCCI is at fault. The reason they are stating is very weak. It has to be in writing that the BCCI and the Indian cricket team is feeling threatened,” he said.
Latif expressed confidence that Pakistan cricket would not be hampered by a lack of matches with India. “We didn’t play at home for 12 long years. What could be more painful than that? Pakistan will get the 34 million dollars in every eight-year time (from ICC), whether they play India or not. The boards that are rich will suffer losses, not a board like PCB that doesn’t have the money,” he said.
