“Fans want us to react”- Ramiz Raja reiterates that Pakistan can boycott next year’s World Cup in India

“Fans want us to react”- Ramiz Raja reiterates that Pakistan can boycott next year’s World Cup in India

Ramiz Raja

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja said Pakistan could boycott next year’s World Cup in India if the issue between the two boards isn’t resolved. As Pakistan fans didn’t like the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah’s announcement of a neutral venue for Aisa Cup 2023, Raja said the board will decide as per the fans’ interests.

“We don’t want to really go there but it’s just that the fans want us to react,” Raja told Sky Sports Cricket on Saturday. “The fans are absolutely bitter because of what India’s narrative has been regarding India-Pakistan.”

Pakistan were given the hosting rights for the Asia Cup 2023 but the BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated the tournament will take place in a neutral venue due to political tensions. Raja said if India don’t want to come to Pakistan, then the hosting rights should get snatched from them. If Asia Cup 2023 takes place outside Pakistan, then as per Raja, Pakistan will boycott the next year’s ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in India.

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Ramiz Raja says Pakistan have survived without India

Ramiz Raja
IND vs PAK

The former Pakistani player then said that as the fans from both sides love the opponent’s players, he hoped the two countries to meet again but on “equal terms“. He reiterated his consent for India-Pakistan matches.

“I’m all for India-Pakistan contests, I’ve said this on record. I absolutely love the fans, and they like us as well – Pakistan has become a brand in international cricket, the players have got fan following in India, and I know that the second most watched team in India after India is Pakistan, so they take interest in our development,” Raja said.

“We want to go and play, but the fact is it has to be on equal terms,” said Raja before saying that Pakistan can’t be “subservient” to a certain cricket board. “We’ve survived without India now for a good number of years,” he added.

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