Irfan Pathan, who used to be an all-rounder for India, spoke about the handshake issue during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match. In this match, the Indian players didn’t shake hands with the Pakistani players before or after the game.
Pathan said these kinds of decisions aren’t taken by them. They are in sync with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government.
He said, Cricketers, BCCI and the Indian government are on the same page. Everything goes with what’s happening and it’s also up to each individual to decide.
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He also said even though the handshake issue is being talked about a lot, the Indian team’s good performance is still the main thing to focus on.
He added, Indian team is playing well. All the talk about the handshake is one thing, but how well Indian team is doing is another.
The reason the players didn’t shake hands was to show respect to the families who lost people in Pahalgam terror attack. It was a gesture of sympathy and understanding towards the affected families. The team wanted to show they stood with the grieving families.
Pathan also praised the Odisha Pro T20 League being organized by Odisha Cricket Association (OCA). He feels this tournament will really help young cricketers in the state to improve and move forward in their careers.
Pathan said, This will give chances to many young talented players. Odisha cricket will benefit a lot from it. I hope many players will reach the highest level because of this. He believes such leagues provide a platform for players to showcase their talent and gain experience which can lead to more opportunities in future.
Odisha Pro T20 League will start from September 17. It will have six teams and 18 matches. Both Pathan and Debashish Mohanty, who is from Odisha, will be ambassadors for the league, promoting the event and supporting the players. This league will get a lot of attention and will be a great opportunity for local talent to shine.
