Wasim Akram Urges Players & Fans To Move On Amidst India Vs Pakistan Boycott Calls | Cricket News

Pakistan legend Wasim Akram. (AFP Photo)

Former cricketer Wasim Akram has said that one team will win and the other will lose in the marquee India vs Pakistan clash and players should ensure that it is treated just as a game, adding that during his playing days, his teammates as well as the opposing Indians enjoyed playing against each other.

The India-Pakistan clash has been marred by boycott calls, stemming from a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April that killed 26 tourists.

Initially, the attack was claimed by The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, but a few days later, they denied.

India retaliated with Operation Sindoor, targeting and destroying terror camps in Pakistan and PoK.

Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling and a drone attack, which the Indian Army foiled.

“Enjoy, it’s a game of cricket. Forget about everything other than cricket. One team will win and one team will lose. Just enjoy the moment if you win the game. Pressure will come, enjoy that and show discipline because this is just a game,” Akram said while speaking to AFP. 

“It’s for both teams and for both sets of fans,” the former Pakistan cricketer said.

A packed crowd of 25,000 is expected at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Akram reflected on how he excelled under similar pressure during his 19-year international career.

“I enjoyed every game against India and so did players from the opposition,” Akram said.

Akram was part of Pakistan’s 1987 tour, a period when tensions between the two countries almost led to war.

Akram requested Pakistan’s inexperienced team to focus on the bigger picture and not be swept up by the hype of facing T20 world champions and arch-rivals India.