Mohammad Amir. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir expressed his dissatisfaction with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), claiming that the board did not give the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) the importance it deserved. Pakistan was slated to host the Asia Cup this year, but the BCCI confirmed that they will not travel to the neighboring country, keeping in mind the political tensions between the two nations. Meanwhile, Pakistan also indicated that if India does so, they will not participate in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
The PCB then proposed a hybrid model in which Pakistan’s matches would be played in Pakistan and India’s matches would be played at a neutral venue. The BCCI, however, is said to have rejected the proposal, and Amir has expressed his disappointment at the uncertainty.
Amir stated that the PCB is being entirely written off, implying that it is being treated disrespectfully. He also said that the cricket board, or Pakistan cricket in general, has no value and that the BCCI is making continuous efforts to prove that.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is being completely written off, which means it is being treated disrespectfully. It’s like the cricket board, or Pakistan cricket itself, has no worth at all, and they [BCCI] are making continuous efforts to prove that,” Amir was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
He went on to say that it has been proved that whatever PCB does, it has no effect on BCCI. He also claimed that every time PCB tells BCCI to do something, BCCI comes up with silly excuses like terrible weather, too many expenses, or security concerns.
“It is being proven that whatever you do, it doesn’t affect us, and it’s like if you tell a child not to eat a chocolate, he will say I will eat it and will continue to say the same thing. Whenever PCB says to do this or that, BCCI comes up with various lame excuses like bad weather, the expenses are too high, security reasons,” Amir added.
Please let cricket happen peacefully instead of with unnecessary stubbornness: Amir
The former Pakistan speedster then said that there is only one model, and that is cricket and let it be right, whether it’s happening in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh. The 31-year-old also urged to let the game happen peacefully instead of with unnecessary stubbornness. He further added that if someone points out a security concern even in Pakistan, the ICC team was here four days ago and the PCB treated them so well.
“There is only one model, and that is cricket. Let it stay right; whether it’s happening in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh, please let it happen peacefully instead of with unnecessary stubbornness like children. If someone creates a security issue even in Pakistan, the ICC team was here four days ago; I was also there at the National Cricket Academy. PCB provided them with such hospitality,” Amir concluded.