'Why should we run behind them?' - Former PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani says India must come and play Pakistan

The rivalry between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is regarded as the ‘Mother’ of all clashes. The players of both sides try to bring the best out of them whenever they lock horns on the field. Meanwhile, it is to be noted that the two countries only face off against each other in the multi-nation events like the Asia Cup or World Cup due to political tensions between them.

Meanwhile, the former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ehsan Mani has come forward and said that Pakistan must not compromise on its integrity and honor by running behind India and urging them to play a bilateral series. At the same time, Mani has said that during his tenure he never gave too much weightage to the resumption of India-Pakistan cricketing ties in the first place.

India will come and play Pakistan: Ehsan Mani

“I always made it clear that if they want to play, they will come and play Pakistan. I never said no but I’ve always maintained that we have our own integrity, our honour. Why should we run behind India? We should not. When they will be ready, only then we will be ready too,” Mani told Cricket Pakistan.

The last time both nations were involved in a bilateral series was way back in the 2012/13 season when the Misbah-ul-Haq-led side had toured India for a limited-overs series in late December and early January. India, on the other hand, had last toured the neighboring country way back in 2005/06 for a bilateral series under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy. The last time the Indian team had officially visited Pakistan for cricketing reasons was during the 2008 Asia Cup.

Since the 2008 Mumbai Terrorist attacks, the BCCI has never signed any Pakistan players in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL). The only player that played after that was former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood after getting British citizenship in 2011. Pace legend Wasim Akram was also associated with the Kolkata Knight Riders team management as the bowling coach before.