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Shoaib Akhtar Proposes India vs Pakistan Series to Raise Funds For Fight Against COVID-19 Pandemic

With both countries in lockdown due to the deadly virus, and cricket around the hold brought to a standstill, it is unlikely that such a series can happen anytime soon.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Wednesday proposed a three-match ODI series against arch-rivals India to raise funds for the needy or vulnerable families in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in both the countries. The arch-rivals have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012 due to diplomatic tensions between the two nations. India and Pakistan have not played a full-series since 2007 due to the terrorist attacks on the former by Pakistan-based outfits.

Since then India and Pakistan have only faced each other in ICC events and in continental tournaments like Asia Cup. “In this time of crisis, I want to propose a three-match series in which for the first time, the people of neither country would be upset at the outcome of the games,” Akhtar was quoted by PTI from Islamabad.

“If Virat (Kohli) scores a hundred, we will be happy, if Babar Azam scores a hundred, you will be happy. Both teams will be winners irrespective of whatever happens on the field,” he said.

“You are bound to get massive viewership for the games. For the first time, both countries will play for each other. And whatever funds are generated through this can be donated equally to the government of India and Pakistan to fight this pandemic,” added the 44-year-old.

With both countries in lockdown amid the fast-spreading deadly virus, the matches can only be organised when things improve. However, the 44-year-old Akhtar feels the sooner they are held, the better it would be but could not tell how the logistics of such an initiative would be worked out.

“Everyone is sitting at home at the moment, so there will be a massive following for the games. Maybe not now, when things start improving, the games could be organised at a neutral location like Dubai. Chartered flights could be arranged and the matches could he held.

“It could even lead to the resumption of bilateral cricketing ties and relations of both countries improve diplomatically. You never know,” said the ‘Rawalpindi Express’.

“The whole world will tune into it, so much money can be raised to deal with this crisis. In difficult times, the character of the nation comes forward.”

In these challenging times, Akhtar feels both countries should help each other. “If India can make 10,000 ventilators for us, Pakistan will remember this gesture forever. But we can only propose the matches. The rest is up to the authorities (to decide).”

India cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh were recently trolled for asking their social media followers to donate to Shahid Afridi’s charity foundation which is doing its bit in Pakistan’s fight against the deadly virus.

“It was inhuman to criticize them. It is not about countries or religion at the moment, it is about humanity,” he opined.

Akhtar has spent a lot of time in India as a commentator. He fondly recalled his days in Mumbai during the World T20 in 2016, the last time he came to India for work.

“I am forever grateful about the love I have received from the people of India. For the first time I am revealing this, whatever I used to earn from India, I made a significant amount there, thirty percent of it, I used to distribute among the low-income staff who used to work with me in the TV,” he remembered.

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