Follow UsFormer Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has openly challenged India on a Pakistani news channel to play 10 ODIs, T20Is and Tests against Pakistan to prove they are a better team.
Notably, there has been much resentment in Pakistani cricket circles after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is being hosted there.
Eventually, due to the hybrid model adopted because BCCI refused to travel to Pakistan, the Indian men's cricket team is playing all their games in Dubai in the ICC Champions Trophy. Teams playing against them have had to travel in and out of Pakistan to the UAE to play their games.
Many former and current international cricketers, including Naseer Hussain, Pat Cummins, Michael Atherton, and Rassie van der Dussen, have questioned India's undeniable advantage in the tournament by playing all their games in Dubai.
India defeated Pakistan comprehensively by six wickets when they faced them in Dubai, and the Men In Green were no match for the Men In Blue. That defeat ensured Pakistan’s early elimination from the tournament they were hosting, and they were the last team in the group, ending their competition winless.
However, Mushtaq felt that India needed to prove itself against Pakistan by playing more games with the arch-rivals.
“If we keep political things aside, their players will be outstanding, and they will be playing good cricket,” Mushtaq said.
“If you are a good team, I think let’s play 10 Tests, 10 ODIs and 10 T20Is against Pakistan, then everything would become clear.”