World Cup 2023: Zaka Ashraf Takes a Massive changes after Dushman Mulk Comment

Zaka Ashraf Takes a Massive changes after Dushman Mulk Comment: Under-fire President of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, changed his earlier disparaging statement regarding India. Immediately after India’s kind greeting and hospitality for the Pakistani team won praise from all around the world, the disturbing statement quickly went viral on social media.

Read More | ICC World Cup 2023: England All Rounder Ben Stokes Sure that England Can Win ICC ODI World Cup Title in India

Babar Azam & Co. landed in Hyderabad on Wednesday (September 27) and received a grand welcome at the airport. As the Pakistani celebrities exited the airport to join the bus, hundreds of admirers waited up to see them and cheered them on. Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi, among others, expressed their gratitude for the reception on social media.

However, Zaka Ashraf made an astounding statement regarding India on the opposite side of the border, referring to it as a “dushman mulk (enemy country)”. The PCB head urged Pakistani supporters to cheer on their team throughout the World Cup and said:

“The morale of the players should be up when they go to an enemy country or where the competition is being held. They should go with full support of the nation so that they can perform well.”

Unsurprisingly, Zaka Ashraf has faced severe criticism for his distasteful remark. At a time when many believe that cricket has the potential to improve the ever-deteriorating relationship between the two countries, Zaka Ashraf’s comment took many by surprise.

Zaka Ashraf Takes a Massive changes

And the head of the PCB didn’t wait long to retract his statement. Zaka Ashraf changed his mind in a statement issued by the PCB on Friday, expressing his gratitude for the kind welcome extended to the Pakistani side by the Indians.

Read More | World Cup 2023: R Ashwin Replaces Injured Axar Patel in World Cup ODI Squad

He emphasized that the cordial greeting is a sign of the shared admiration for the athletes from the two nations.

“Zaka Ashraf personally congratulated the Indians over arranging a reception of this kind. He mentioned that whenever India and Pakistan step onto the cricket field, they emerge as traditional rivals but not as enemies.

“Zaka Ashraf expressed his hope that throughout the entire World Cup, Pakistan cricketers would receive the same warmth, and Indian fans would get to see the best cricket from Pakistan players,” stated the release from the PCB.

(With Input From CricketAddictor)