Farokh Engineer is ready to go to Mars if India and Pakistan play cricket there. It has been 10 years since the two Asian giants last played a bilateral series. For almost a decade, India and Pakistan have been playing only in Asia Cup and ICC tournaments. But whenever they take to the cricket field, it becomes a spectacle and often breaks attendance records. More than 90,000 people attended the final match of the T20 World Cup between India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and billions were on TV and online to watch the live streaming.
There were offers from the UAE and England to host the India-Pakistan series, but the BCCI and the PCB could not find common ground. In fact, they met of late over the 2023 Asian Cup venue.
“I want to watch the game between India and Pakistan anywhere. If India and Pakistan play, I will go to Mars,” said the engineer in an interview with journalists. Khaleej Times. “It would be great to have an India-Pakistan series in England or the UAE. You know there were great games in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and especially in Sharjah, they created such excitement in those days. So I hope they continue to play each other, wherever they are. either Dubai or England. But unfortunately I am not the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It depends on the powers, it depends on the government. They will decide,” he said. added.
India beat Pakistan in a last-ball thriller at the MCG thanks to a brilliant performance from Virat Kohli (82* off 53). “Virat Kohli played a great innings. India had little luck and we saw it all. It was a fitting end to the India-Pakistan match. “But what pleased me the most was the camaraderie between the players. step. It was played in a great atmosphere, with great camaraderie,” said the engineer.
The former India wicket-keeper also recounted the story of how he and Pakistan legend Zaheer batted together in a World XI match when war broke out between the two countries.
“Yes, I resented that part, but he couldn’t help it. None of my generation, you know, (MAK) Pataudi, (Ajit) Wadekar, none of those guys got a chance to play in Pakistan. It was time. The government restricted the sport, you know, two countries were at war.
“When I played in the World XI against Australia (in 1971), Zaheer Abbas was my roommate. “The day the war started, I played with Zaheer,” he recalled.
“The front page of the Sydney Morning Herald read, ‘India, Pakistan at war?’ There was a big picture with the title. But look at these guys playing cricket in the World XI and they are very friendly.”
“You know they made fun of the war. I kept that picture with me for a long time.”