Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq made scathing remarks on the issue of India refusing to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, saying that India should be taught a “sabak” (lesson) for its “attitude”, while also citing a recent personal experience.
Pakistan are the official hosts of the Champions Trophy, but India will play their matches in Dubai as part of a hybrid arrangement after the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send the team to Pakistan for the tournament. After much wrangling between the BCCI, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), an agreement was reached to resolve the deadlock.
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Speaking on a Pakistan TV channel, the legendary off-spinner got agitated when the anchor asked him about the various issues raised by India, alleging it as attempts to create roadblocks for the host nation.
“Chu-chu cha-cha lagayi hui hai inhone, inke naaz nakhre khatam nahi hote (they are creating a ruckus, their tantrums don’t end),” he said about India and BCCI. “Aur hum abhi bhi gunn gaa rahe hain inke. Hamare bache kehte hain Virat Kohli aa jaye, Jasprit Bumrah aa jaye, hum usse dekhna chahte hain. Pakistan ki taraf se minnate ho rahi hain. Har bacha inko dekhne chaah raha hai par inke nakhre khatam nahi ho rahe (we are still singing their praises; our kids want to see Kohli, Bumrah play but the tantrums are not ending),” said Saqlain.
He then went on to cite a personal experience where he alleged harassment during his attempts to get an Indian visa as part of New Zealand team’s support staff.
“I will tell you my own personal experience. Ahead of the India-New Zealand series that happened recently (November 2024), where New Zealand whiteashed them 3-0, maar ke aaye inko (thrashed them), I was New Zealand’s spin (bowling) consultant before being appointed as mentor by the PCB,” Saqlain said.
“Five months before (the tour), I received a letter from the Indian cricket board as well from the New Zealand cricket board for (Indian) visa. I booked (an appointment) online from Leicester (England) where I have my home and got an appointment for two weeks later.
“They made me sit in queue for 4 hours. I felt a bit embarrassed and I was disappointed as well for the treatment being meted out to me. They said you have to be in line…You won’t believe how many people I approached (to get my visa processed). They kept telling me ‘queue mei laga hua hai’ (it’s in queue to be processed),” he recalled.
“The status remained the same for three months. In the meantime I got this offer from PCB. So I refused the visa, they took fee as well and did not even acknowledge. It ended there.”
The 48-year-old former spinner went on to further lambast India for not budging from its stance of not playing in Pakistan.
“Pata nahi yeh kaunsi duniya mei reh rahe hain aur kya karna chaah rahe hain. Kya yeh hamesha issi tarah rahenge? Inhone kab sudharna hai, kab inka mindset change hoga? (don’t know in which world they live and what they want. Will they stay the same? When will they improve? When will their mindset change?)”, he said.
“They have a bizarre attitude. I think the ICC should look into it and Pakistan should take a firm stand. Inko sabak sikhana chahiye…”
Tensions are expected to rise in another four days from now, when Pakistan will be visiting Dubai to take on archrivals India in a Group-A match of the Champions Trophy.