Zaka Ashraf takes U-turn after his “Dushman Mulk” comment triggered controversy and lauds India for giving warm reception to Pakistan players

Ashraf issued a clarification, saying that via those comments, he actually meant that India and Pakistan are traditional rivals and not enemies.

Zaka Ashraf takes U-turn after his “Dushman Mulk” comment triggered controversy and lauds India for giving warm reception to Pakistan players

Zaka Ashraf (Image via Hindustan Times)

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf termed India as “Dushman Mulk” or “enemy country” while addressing journalists following clearing out contract issues. However, his comment backfired as fans from India and Pakistan criticized him for using such words as a chairman of the board.

However, as per a report published by Cricket Pakistan, Ashraf issued a clarification, saying that via those comments, he actually meant that India and Pakistan are traditional rivals and not enemies. He also mentioned the warm reception the Pakistani players received at the Hyderabad airport.

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“This love was evident by the reception arranged at the Hyderabad airport. Zaka Ashraf personally congratulated the Indians on arranging a reception of this kind. He mentioned that whenever India and Pakistan step onto the cricket field, they emerge as traditional rivals but not as enemies,” the statement said.

Pakistan and India share a hostile relationship due to political reasons which is why the rivals haven’t met in bilateral series since 2012. After seven years, Pakistan visited India for the upcoming ODI World Cup and are all set to kick off their campaign on October 6 against the Netherlands.

Related: “Stop watching television, stop reading papers,” Yuvraj Singh recalls Sachin Tendulkar’s words to advise India for ODI World Cup amid continuous social media criticism

Shoaib Akhtar gives honest post after Pakistani players’ grand welcome in India

Though the two countries do not share a good bond, the reception Pakistani players received and their reactions after that elated the fans of both countries. Even former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar shared his honest post about what he thinks of the warm welcome of the arch-rivals in India.

Zaka Ashraf takes U-turn after his "Dushman Mulk" comment triggered controversy by lauding India for giving warm reception to Pakistan players
Shoaib Akhtar (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

Akhtar feels such reactions from both sides are nothing but the beauty of sports, which also gives an idea about what they have missed out on for a decade.

Here’s his post:

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