Dubai: Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has reacted strongly to the actions of nationalist political party Shiv Sena, who stormed into the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters in Mumbai to scuttle talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over a proposed India-Pakistan series in December.
Former Pakistan cricketers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar — who are in India as part of Star Sports’ commentary team for the ongoing India-South Africa series — will return home before the fifth ODI in Mumbai as a consequence, while the ICC has also withdrawn Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar from the last two ODIs in India.
“It’s always disappointing when such things happen. It’s not about Pakistan-India, but wherever it happens it is always disappointing because I am one who believes that politics should be totally separated from cricket,” Misbah said on Wednesday.
“It is a sport and we should just deal with it like a sport. That will show the sporting spirit of the team as well as the nation.
“We just have to exhibit sporting spirit and let the cricket go on. Otherwise it will be really difficult for all the nations that have been playing this game and everyone will really face problems of playing against each other.”
Misbah also expressed his concern over Australia’s cancellation of the scheduled tour of Bangladesh this month.
“Recently the Bangladesh-Australia tour problem occurred and that was also a disappointment. As a cricketer we want to play each other and we don’t want any sort of politics involved in this sport,” he said.
Veteran Misbah, who played against India in Tests way back in 2007, stated last month that he would like to take a decision on his retirement only after playing against India.
Misbah, 41, now fears there will be doubts over whether Pakistan will be able to play in next year’s World Twenty20 in India.
“These are the big concerns when these things happen — it put doubts into the mind. I don’t know what is going to happen and obviously as a player these are big concerns for everyone because you want to play there. In fact, as a player, everyone wants to play everywhere and enjoy the game.”
