India and Pakistan have been locking horns with each other only in ICC and Asia Cup event for obvious reasons. The political tensions between the two nations have only turned from bad to worse over the years and as a result, we are not able to witness bilateral series featuring these two teams.
It has been more than a decade since these two teams played a bilateral series. Since then, they have been playing in ICC and Asia Cup events. Both these teams locked horns with each other in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 in India in the previous meeting.
Team India won by 7 wickets at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Even before that, India played against Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
In the group stage match, India came through with flying colours by beating Pakistan as Ravichandran Ashwin hit the winning runs by hitting four runs for India in the last ball of the innings. India beat Pakistan by four wickets at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Ravi Ashwin gives perfect reply after Ramiz Raja’s “India have started respecting Pakistan” remark
Meanwhile, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin came with an epic reply after Ramiz Raja’s “India have started respecting Pakistan” remark.
“Pakistan humesha se underdogs rahein hain jab bhi India se muqabla huye hain, but of late, unhone hume respect dena shuru kardiya hain kyunki unke khayal me yeh hain ki Pakistan hume kabhi hara hi nahi sakte. So yahi main kehta hu ki Pakistan ko credit dijiye kyunki ek billion-dollar team cricket industry ko hum harate hai
(Translation: Pakistan have always been underdogs whenever they have played against India. But, of late, they have started to give them respect, knowing that they can be beaten in this contest. This is where Pakistan should get credit as India is a ‘billion-dollar’ team).” Ramiz Raja commented.
To which, Ravichandran Ashwin replied, “I didn’t know he made that statement. But look, it’s a game of cricket. We don’t play so often, the rivalry is big. It means a lot to the people from both countries. But at the end of the day whatever you may say as a cricketer and someone who is playing the sport, you do understand that wins and losses are part of the game.”
“Especially in this format, the margins are going to be so close. Respect for the opposition is not something that comes with victories and defeats. It comes with how you are made, and we certainly respect the Pakistani side, and so do they,” he further added.