Cricket great Javed Miandad has lashed out at India for withdrawing from the upcoming Asia Cup, which is scheduled in Pakistan.

The former captain, who was part of the 1992 World Cup winning team, was present in Quetta to watch the exhibition game between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.

He said that Pakistan cricket doesn’t need India to survive.

“India can go to hell if they don’t want to come to Pakistan to play cricket,” he said speaking to reporters. “Pakistan cricket does not need India to survive. Why is India afraid to play against Pakistan? They know if they lose to Pakistan, the public will not spare them.”

“Narendra Modi will disappear; their public won’t leave him,” he said.

The development came after Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah stated that India will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023.

“I’ve always backed Pakistan. And you know that I don’t leave spare India whenever an issue arises. But the thing is we need to look at our part. And we should fight for it,” he said

“We don’t care because we are getting to host our cricket. This is ICC’s job. If ICC can’t control this there’s no use of the governing body. They need to implement similar rules for every team. If teams like these don’t come, they should be debarred.”

Tit-for-tat

Pakistan have also made a similar stance that they won’t travel to India for the ICC World Cup 2023, if Rohit Sharma’s men don’t participate in the Asia Cup.

There was no confirmation regarding where the tournament would take place, if it is moved from Pakistan, who have the hosting rights.

Shah, also Secretary BCCI, demanded that Asia Cup be moved to a “neutral venue like “last year.”