Indian cricketer, Yuvraj Singh, vouched for cricket bilateral series, between India and Pakistan in the latest interview with publication Sports360. His remarks came amid the ongoing reluctance of BCCI to agree to play a cricket series with Pakistan due to strained foreign relations between the two countries.
Yuvraj Singh called to distinguish game of cricket from the politics. He said that cricketers play cricket for the love they have for the sport but they should not discriminate between countries.
“We play cricket for the love of the sport. We cannot choose which country to play against ourselves. But what I can say is that the more India versus Pakistan cricket there is, the better it is for the sport,” he said.
Yuvraj Singh, who was part of the Indian cricket team that played bilateral series with Pakistan said that he enjoyed playing cricket with arch-rival Pakistan but regretted that he cannot control the affairs.
Yuvraj Singh "When I started playing cricket I faced Pakistan in the World Cup & the energy and level was different. Then in the mid 2000s, India went to Pakistan and we had some great series. The level of cricket and intensity is something that you don't see elsewhere" #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) February 7, 2020
“I remember playing against Pakistan in 2004, 2006 and 2008 in bilateral series. These days yeah, there has not been enough of that. But these things are not in our hands,” said Yuvraj Singh.
Yuvraj Singh echoed the calls of Pakistani star cricketer Shahid Afridi who also vouches for bilateral series between the arch-rivals.
Read more: India won’t play Asia Cup in Pakistan: BCCI’s tough response
“I think, if India and Pakistan were to have a series, it will be something bigger than the Ashes. However, we don’t seem to get it. We are letting politics get in the way of people’s love for this sport and their wish to come together,” Afridi said.
“I think we need to put a few things behind us as well and so does India. We need to sit down together at a table and talk things out.”
Shahid Afridi "Yuvraj Singh never lost hope. He kept fighting & it was his willpower that brought him back to the cricket field. There are a lot of challenges in life but don't ever be scared of failure. You keep learning, keep fighting, stand on your feet, that's most important"
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) February 7, 2020
While cricketers on both sides of the border look for the resumption of cricketing ties between the two countries, BCCI clings to its stubbornness in its recent statement when it refused to allow Indian cricketers to visit Pakistan if the upcoming Asia Cup is to held in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, India’s Kabaddi governing body(AKFI), Indian Olympic Association and government have disowned the Indian team playing in Kabaddi World Cup in Pakistan. The officials said that the players are not representing India but playing individually.
“AKFI has no information about any kabaddi team to have gone to Pakistan. No permission was ever granted by AKFI to any team to go to Pakistan and play any kabaddi match there,” the AKFI press release said.
“We came to know about it only after the information was sought. AKFI does not support any such activity. Legal action may be taken against the defaulters,” the AKFI said.