Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has thrown down the gauntlet to India, saying if their players can’t even show up for a legends match against Pakistan, they might as well back out of ICC tournaments too.
Butt’s frustration exploded after the high-profile India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) was abruptly scrapped when Indian players refused to play against Shahid Afridi and his squad. India’s lineup—featuring names like Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh—opted to stay in the dressing room. No toss. No game. Just a quiet, uneasy abandonment. Both teams were awarded a point each.
But for Butt, the silence wasn’t enough. He wants a statement.
> “If India’s stance is political, fine—own it. But don’t pick and choose. Say it out loud: ‘We won’t play against Pakistan in ICC events either.’ Don’t hide behind half-measures,” Butt said in a fiery video message.
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Asia Cup in Doubt, ICC in Spotlight
Butt’s demand isn’t just rhetoric—it lands just weeks before the Asia Cup 2025, where India and Pakistan are supposed to clash twice in the group stage. Speculation is already swirling that India may once again dodge the fixture. If that happens, Butt insists the ICC can’t keep pretending nothing’s wrong.
> “You skipped one match for optics—now skip the World Cup too. Don’t show up in Champions Trophy if you can’t handle playing Pakistan.”
The message is blunt: either treat cricket like sport or admit it’s politics. Don’t do both.
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A Pattern of Evasion?
Butt’s comments tap into a growing frustration in Pakistan’s cricket circles. They point to India’s inconsistent stance: refusing bilateral cricket, but showing up for tournaments when it benefits them. Butt even called out how Indian teams in other sports—kabaddi, tennis—visited Pakistan recently without issue.
> “So kabaddi’s okay? But cricket isn’t? What kind of foreign policy is that?”
