Younis Khan says it’s important for India and Pakistan to play more matches against each other, as it can make players famous and help them handle pressure better.
The former Pakistan batsman, Younis Khan recently made a significant statement regarding the India-Pakistan bilateral match series, which does not happen often these days. He believes that these high stakes are the platform where players get to become stars.
“When India-Pakistan matches and series happen often, it gives rise to (star) players. We can talk about the past, present, and future, whenever there are performances in India-Pakistan matches, it creates stars. So, I think, for the sake of sports, the governments of both countries should unite.
Players (from both India and Pakistan) are fine (with it), as we see a lot of nice gestures from both the teams, players share their thoughts, and there is a good atmosphere. So I believe the governments and the boards should step forward to organize this series,”he added.
India and Pakistan have not participated in any bilateral series since 2012–13 and a test series since 2007, following the 2008 Mumbai Terror attacks and the 2019 Pulwama Attack that resulted in numerous casualties in the CRPF. Since then, India and Pakistan have only played the ICC and ACC events, with India not getting the opportunity to travel to Pakistan for any event.
Why is the Bilateral Series Important for India and Pakistan Teams According to Younis Khan?
Younis Khan pointed out that the performances that are witnessed during India-Pakistan have the potential to elevate the players to stardom due to the rivalry and global attention that the matches of these teams receive.
Younis Khan, former captain of the Pakistan Cricket team, wants regular cricket series between Pakistan and India, highlights good terms between players from two countries and urges the governments to sit and talk about resumption of cricket. #Cricket #PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/2xy0B1JRFr
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) May 21, 2024
He has expressed a desire for the teams to play more bilateral matches and not just ICC events, to help the players of both teams show off their talents more frequently with less pressure. According to him, the ICC tournaments without regular matches between the two archrivals add additional pressure on the players.
He especially highlighted the ‘extraordinary pressure’ faced by the players, during the India-Pakistan matches in the ICC tournaments because these games don’t happen very often. He believes that regular bilateral series between the two teams would normalize the intense rivalry and nervousness that players often feel during high-profile matches.
It will allow the team players to perform under less stress, elevating their chances of being stars without the overwhelming burden of the national expectations that come along with the sport, and they will be able to focus more on the game itself.
Upcoming Match of India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup
Last year, Pakistan visited India for the ICC World Cup in 2023, and India is scheduled to go to Pakistan for the champion’s trophy in 2025. The recent match between India and Pakistan would be the match of the T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be held on June 9th in New York.
Younis Khan’s perspective indicates that regular competition between India and Pakistan would improve the quality of cricket, enhance the player’s ability to handle pressure, and potentially lead to the rise of new cricketing stars.
