Follow UsFormer Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq feels it’s high time someone taught India a lesson after they refused to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The eight-team event will be played across two countries—Pakistan and the UAE—with the ICC opting to implement a hybrid model. Rohit Sharma and Co. will be playing all their matches in Dubai—even the semis and the final, should they go that far.
Speaking on a Pakistani TV channel, Mushtaq said, "Chu-chu cha-cha lagayi hui hai inhone, inke naaz nakhre khatam nahi hote (they are creating a ruckus, their tantrums don't end). Aur hum abhi bhi gunn gaa rahe hain inke. Hamare bache kehte hain Virat Kohli aa jaye, Jasprit Bumrah aa jaye, hum usse dekhna chahte hain. Pakistan ki taraf se minnate ho rahi hain. Har bacha inko dekhne chaah raha hai par inke nakhre khatam nahi ho rahe (we are still singing their praises; our kids want to see Kohli, Bumrah play but the tantrums are not ending)," reported the Times of India.
"Pata nahi yeh kaunsi duniya mei reh rahe hain aur kya karna chaah rahe hain. Kya yeh hamesha issi tarah rahenge? Inhone kab sudharna hai, kab inka mindset change hoga? (don't know in which world they live and what they want. Will they stay the same? When will they improve? When will their mindset change?). They have a bizarre attitude. I think the ICC should look into it and Pakistan should take a firm stand. Inko sabak sikhana chahiye..."
Sharing a recent personal experience, Mushtaq said, "I will tell you my own personal experience. Ahead of the India-New Zealand series that happened recently (November 2024), where New Zealand whiteashed them 3-0, maar ke aaye inko (thrashed them), I was New Zealand's spin (bowling) consultant before being appointed as mentor by the PCB."
"Five months before (the tour), I received a letter from the Indian cricket board as well from the New Zealand cricket board for (Indian) visa. I booked (an appointment) online from Leicester (England) where I have my home and got an appointment for two weeks later.
"They made me sit in queue for 4 hours. I felt a bit embarrassed and I was disappointed as well for the treatment being meted out to me. They said you have to be in line...You won't believe how many people I approached (to get my visa processed). They kept telling me 'queue mei laga hua hai' (it's in queue to be processed).
“The status remained the same for three months. In the meantime I got this offer from PCB. So I refused the visa, they took the fee as well and did not even acknowledge it. It ended there."
India and Pakistan will come face to face against each other on February 23 in Dubai.