Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their complaint against India lodged with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Kaneria, despite acknowledging Pakistan’s grievances, pointed out that Pakistan had been at fault on multiple occasions themselves. The PCB had expressed concerns about the reception Pakistan’s team received from spectators during their ICC World Cup 2023 match against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Kaneria, in an attempt to shed light on the situation, took to the social media platform ‘X,’ formerly known as Twitter. He questioned various actions, asking, “Who asked Pakistani journalist Zainab Abbas to comment against India and Hindus? Who asked Mickey Arthur to label an ICC event as a BCCI event? Who asked Rizwan to perform Namaz in the playground? Don’t find faults in others!”
The PCB had officially raised concerns with the ICC regarding delays in visas for Pakistani journalists and the lack of a clear visa policy for Pakistani fans attending the World Cup. They also filed a complaint about alleged inappropriate conduct directed at the Pakistan squad during the India vs. Pakistan match on October 14, 2023.
Mickey Arthur, the team director, expressed his disappointment after the India-Pakistan match, emphasizing that it did not feel like an ICC event but rather a bilateral series or a BCCI event. Despite these challenges, Arthur emphasized the importance of focusing on the game and the next ball during the post-match press conference.
The controversy surrounding the match and PCB’s actions have stirred debate in the cricketing world, highlighting the complexities of international cricket diplomacy and fan sentiment.
