Zaka Ashraf does volte-face on controversial ‘Dushman Mulk’ remark, calls Indian reception ‘improbable’ | Cricket Information – Occasions of India

NEW DELHI: PCB chief Zaka Ashraf, in an effort to rectify his earlier remark, not directly labeling India as an ‘enemy nation’, mentioned the nice and cozy reception that the Pakistan cricket crew obtained upon their arrival in India, highlights the deep affection followers on either side of the border maintain for the gamers.
Pakistan arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday of their first go to to India in seven years.
On the identical day, the PCB introduced a rise in pay for its gamers. Following the announcement, Ashraf said that the elevate in central contracts would supply added motivation to the gamers as they head into the World Cup in ‘enemy nation’.

The millionaire banker’s unfastened feedback went viral and it actually did not go down nicely with the bigwigs of BCCI and on Friday, he clarified his stance.
“Chairman PCB’s Administration Committee, Zaka Ashraf, has said that the improbable reception of the Pakistan males’s cricket crew in India for the World Cup proves how a lot love the individuals of each international locations have for one another’s gamers,” the PCB mentioned in an announcement.
Sensing that his “enemy nation” feedback may have deeper implications, Ashraf was fast to distance himself from his earlier remark.
“This love was evident by the reception organized on the Hyderabad airport. Zaka Ashraf personally congratulated the Indians over arranging a reception of this sort. He talked about that every time India and Pakistan step onto the cricket discipline, they emerge as conventional rivals however not as enemies,” it said.
The 2 groups play one another in ICC occasions and Asia Cup because of the tense relations between the 2 international locations. The gamers nonetheless get alongside nicely with one another. Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf have been left overwhelmed with the welcome at Hyderabad airport.
Ashraf is anticipated to attend the blockbuster India-Pakistan conflict in Ahmedabad on October 14.
“Chairman Administration Committee additionally emphasised that cricket between Pakistan and India have all the time been the centre of world consideration which is why cricket between the 2 international locations is taken into account extra vital than the opposite contests on this sport.”
The assertion additionally talked about about beginning bilateral ties as soon as once more however India’s subsequent five-year FTP calendar would not have area for a collection with subsequent door neighbours.
“He (Ashraf) expressed his need for the restoration of bilateral cricketing relations between the 2 international locations, permitting tens of millions of cricket followers from each nations the chance to look at these gamers carry out reside.”
Ashraf concluded with expectation that Indian crew will journey to Pakistan quickly.
“He concluded by expressing his hope that the Indian cricket crew would additionally go to Pakistan quickly, enabling Pakistan to reciprocate the heat and love proven by India to the Pakistan cricket crew,” the assertion added.
Pakistan media prone to get visas by Monday
Round 50 Pakistani journalists, who’ve utilized for the Indian visa to cowl the World Cup are probably get the clearance on Monday.
“The visas ought to come by Monday. So far as the followers are involved, it’s troublesome to inform what number of have utilized for the visa,” mentioned a PCB supply.
Pakistan cricket crew acquired their visas lower than 48 hours earlier than their journey to India, performed their first warm-up sport on Friday and their two primary competitors video games within the metropolis can be held on October 6 and October 10.
A visa software of a Pakistani nationwide takes extra time than traditional because the nation is on India’s prior reference (PRC) listing.
(With inputs from PTI)