ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Rizwan, skipper of both Multan Sultans and Pakistan’s ODI side, has shared his perspective on the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India, amid increasing calls to sever cricketing ties between the two nations.
The strain between the neighbouring countries has intensified following the recent Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Speaking during a post-match press conference, Rizwan adopted a diplomatic tone on the issue. He emphasised that politics should not interfere with sport and highlighted the camaraderie shared among international players.
“Firstly, I’m not fully aware of what’s happening between the two countries as I don’t have the time to use social media,” he said.
“Secondly, whenever I meet our cricketing family, which includes top players like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Joe Root, we interact like brothers and learn from one another. I’ll simply say that politics should be kept out of sport,” he added.
Cutting cricketing ties
Just days earlier, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly had advocated for cutting all cricketing ties with Pakistan, stating that India should not engage in any bilateral series with them.
It is important to note that India and Pakistan have not contested a bilateral series since 2013. However, the two sides have regularly faced off in ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments.
Looking ahead, the next ICC event is the Women’s ODI World Cup, scheduled for September–October 2025, with India as the host nation.
The competition will follow a round-robin format featuring eight teams, including Pakistan, meaning each side will face every other, making group-based separation irrelevant.
Although India will host the tournament, Pakistan’s matches are expected to be held at a neutral venue. A final decision on the locations of those fixtures is yet to be confirmed.
