Zaka Ashraf, PCB Chief, clarified the enemy comment and praised the hospitality of India in Hyderabad
The Chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaka Ashraf, clarified his comment regarding India before the ODI World Cup 2023, calling India a traditional rival and not an enemy. A video went viral on social media platforms in which Ashraf referred to India as a Dushman Mull, or enemy country, when discussing new contracts for Pakistani players.
In a statement released by the PCB, Ashraf praised the fantastic reception received by the Pakistan cricket team upon arriving in Hyderabad. The statement read, “The fantastic reception of the Pakistan men’s cricket team in India for the World Cup proves how much love the people of both countries have for each other's players. This love was evident by the reception arranged at the Hyderabad airport.”
He further said that both the India and Pakistan cricket teams are not enemies but traditional rivals in cricket, insisting that Pakistan has always received a warm welcome whenever they come to India and vice versa.