Former Pakistan players slam Anurag Thakur for his comments on India-Pakistan bilateral ties

The Pakistan cricket fraternity has mocked BCCI President Anurag Thakur for his recent statement on resumption of India-Pakistan ties and even stated that India was not willing to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan even when the situation between the two countries were under normalcy.

Thakur had stated a few days ago that there was no question about resuming bilateral ties with Pakistan following the militant attack on an Army Base in Uri in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir which killed 18 soldiers.

Former legendary batsman Mohammed Yousuf was very upset with Anurag Thakur’s statement and said that the Indian team has avoided playing them even when their relations were better. I just don't understand what he wants to say. For the last eight years India has avoided playing us in a proper bilateral series even when relations were better," Yousuf said.

Yousuf also added that despite the ICC saying repeatedly that they won’t tolerate any politics in member boards, Thakur is making political statements and the ICC must carefully look into the matter. “The ICC keeps on saying it will not tolerate politics or government interference in member boards and the BCCI President is making political statements. Either he speaks as a BJP leader or BCCI head,” the former Pakistan captain quipped.

An official revealed that the PCB was extremely disappointed with Thakur's political statement as they have been trying for a long time to normalise cricketing ties between the two countries. “It is an out and out political statement from the President of the BCCI. We are disappointed as we have been trying hard for a long time now to normalise cricket ties with India and we have always believed in keeping sports and politics apart,” the official opined.

Former legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir and wicket-keeper batsman Rashid Latif also expressed their disappointment. “The last time we went to India in 2012 as a goodwill gesture for a short series of one-day and T20 matches but since 2007 the Indian board has avoided playing us at a bilateral level in a full series,” Latif quoted.

Abdul Qadir was furious with the state of things and said this was high time that Pakistan stopped playing matches against India in the ICC events. He also added that Pakistan has always tried to keep politics out of cricket and it was the time they stopped running after India.

“They have not played us for so many years so what value is this statement off. I believe that the PCB should seriously think about playing India in the group matches of any ICC event,” he said. “It is the time we stopped running after India and said thank you to them.”

“I just feel that Anurag Thakur should not give political statements in his capacity as BCCI President,” Qadir concluded.

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— MAB (@mayedalbaloosh) September 23, 2016