Sarfraz Ahmed revealed the lesser-known tale of friendship between Indian and Pakistani cricket teams.
Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have one of the biggest rivalries in the sport. However, there was a time when the players from both countries shared a great camaraderie and bond off the field. Former Pakistan cricket team captain, Sarfraz Ahmed, recently revealed that Indian and Pakistani cricketers used to be the best of friends in the 2000s and often shared meals together in the team hotels.
Ahmed, who was the captain of the Pakistan cricket team until 2020, spoke about the friendly relationship between Indian and Pakistani cricketers in an interview. He recalled that during the 2007 T20 World Cup, which India won, the Indian team invited Pakistani cricketers for a meal at their hotel after the final.
He said that Indian cricket team’s then-captain MS Dhoni, and Indian players Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh, were all very friendly with the Pakistani team. Ahmed also mentioned that during the 2004 tour of India, the Pakistani team was invited to the house of Indian cricketer VVS Laxman for dinner.
The former captain added that the players from both teams used to enjoy each other’s company and often had meals together in the hotel. Ahmed said that they used to eat biryani and qorma together and share stories and jokes. He said that there was a great bond between the players and they used to look forward to these interactions.
Ahmed’s comments come at a time when the relationship between India and Pakistan has been strained in recent years due to political tensions. The cricketing ties between the two countries have also been affected, with India refusing to play any bilateral series against Pakistan since 2012. The two teams only face each other in international tournaments like the World Cup and the Asia Cup.
However, despite the political tensions and the strained cricketing relations, there have been instances of sportsmanship and camaraderie between the players from both sides. For instance, during the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan, Indian captain Virat Kohli was seen consoling Pakistani player Mohammad Amir after he was dismissed.
Similarly, during the 2019 World Cup match between India and Pakistan, Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya was seen having a friendly chat with Pakistani captain Sarfaraz Ahmed before the match. These instances show that despite the intense on-field rivalry, there is still mutual respect and camaraderie between the players.
The friendly relations between Indian and Pakistani cricketers in the past can be attributed to the fact that they share a common love for the sport. Cricket is a passion for people in both countries, and the players are no exception. They understand each other’s love for the game and are able to bond over it, despite the political tensions between their countries.
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Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have had a long-standing rivalry on the field, but off the field, the players used to share a camaraderie that is rarely seen in today’s times. Sarfraz Ahmed’s recent comments about the friendly relationship between Indian and Pakistani cricketers in the past highlight the fact that sports has the power to bring people together.
Despite the political tensions and the on-field rivalry, there is still mutual respect and camaraderie between the players. The cricketing ties between the two countries may have been affected, but the bond between the players is still strong, and that is something that should be celebrated.
Former Pakistani captain Sarfraz Ahmed recently reminisced about the good old days when Indian and Pakistani cricketers used to be the best of friends. The friendly banter and bond between the players off the field would often lead to great cricketing moments on the field.
