‘A dog’s tail can never be straightened’ – Former India keeper Surinder Khanna wants bilateral relations suspended with Pakistan

Former Indian wicketkeeper Surinder Khanna has taken a potshot at Pakistan, saying that bilateral ties between the Asian giants should not resume for the time being. Their bilateral relations currently stand suspended due to cross-border tension. Back in 2009, the Pakistan cricketers were also barred from taking part in the popular Indian Premier League (IPL).

Khanna, who played 10 ODIs for India from June 1979 to October 1984, said that Pakistan cricket has used the sport as a “diplomatic tool” and won’t be changing their attitude. However, the 64-year-old wants the Indian government to take a call on the sensitive issue.

This is a political issue: Surinder Khanna

“For long, cricket was used as a diplomatic tool. But as they say, 20 saal bhi kutte ki dum ko nalli me rakh do par wo seedhi nahi hoti (which roughly translates to ‘a dog’s tail can never be straightened) and Pakistan behaved in the same manner,” Khanna was quoted as saying in Cricket Addictor in an exclusive interview.

“This is a political issue and it would be better it they (government) deal with it. But as an Indian, until and unless they change, we should not have any relation with them,” he stated.

Back in 2007, India and Pakistan played their last bilateral Test series. Thereafter at the end of 2012, Pakistan toured India for a short ODI and T20i series. However, after that, the two sides have only played in a handful of matches in the last seven years or so.

The teams only take part in tournaments, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). They last locked horns in the 2019 World Cup at the Old Trafford in Manchester where India came out trumps in a rain-curtailed match in the league stage.

As far as Khanna is concerned, he scored 176 runs in his career at an average of 22. His top scores of 56 and 51* came against Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Sharjah back in 1984. He was a stalwart in the domestic circuit, having played 106 first-class and 45 List A matches in which he got almost 6,600 runs with 19 centuries and 29 half-centuries.