Follow UsFormer Pakistan captain Javed Miandad did not mince his words, going after India for refusing to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup. As a result, the six-team tournament will be played in a hybrid model, with the initial matches played in Pakistan, while the remaining fixtures, including the India-Pakistan tie will be played in Sri Lanka.
Miandad, as a result, says Pakistan should also not go to India for the World Cup later this year.
"Pakistan has been to India in 2012 and even in 2016 now it is the turn of the Indians to come here. If I had to make a decision, I would never go to India to play any match, even the World Cup. We are always ready to play them [India] but they never respond in the same manner. Pakistan cricket is bigger... we are still producing quality players. India can go to hell. I don't think even if we don't go to India, it will make any difference to us," Miandad told reporters.\
The last time India and Pakistan engaged in a bilateral series was in 2012-13, when Pakistan toured India for a three-match ODI series. Since then, they have only met in multi-team events like the World Cup and the Asia Cup.
Miandad has called for the PCB to take a firm stand.
"I always say one can't choose its neighbours, so it is better to live by cooperating with each other. And I have always said cricket is a sport which brings people closer to each other and can remove misunderstandings and grievances between countries. It was on the cards that they would again not send their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup so it is time we also take a strong stand now," Miandad further added.
The Asia Cup is set to get underway from August 31, while the World Cup is reported to begin from October 5.