Indian Musalman Humein Bahot Support Karte Hain: Former Pakistan Cricketer Naved-ul-Hasan

The PCB has still not confirmed whether the Men in Green will be travelling to India after BCCI denied sending the Men in Blue to Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. The fallout of this forced the PCB to suggest a hybrid model and Sri Lanka were announced as a joint-hosts.

As per the hybrid model, Sri Lanka will host 9 games while Pakistan will be hosting mere four games of the continental event, despite being the hosts. While Pakistan will play its games at home, except for the ones against India. However, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is yet to reveal the fixtures and venues of the Asia Cup 2023, which will be held in ODI format.

While PCB continues to stay mum on the CWC 2023, former cricketers and experts have been of the opinion to send the national side to India to compete in the global showpiece, scheduled to start on October 5.

The experts have been claiming that pitch and weather conditions will aid Babar Azam-led Pakistan side in the marquee competition but former pacer Naved-ul-Hasan – who has toured for India bilateral series between the two teams – made a controversial remark saying the Muslims in India will support Pakistan team. He has played 18 international games against India for Pakistan.

What did Naved-ul-Hasan say about Indian Muslims?

Speaking on Nadir Ali’s podcast, the former right-arm pacer made a rather controversial statement saying Indian Muslims support the Men In Green.

Naved-ul-Hasan said, “India mein jab India khel rahi hoti hai to definitely wahi favourite honi hai. Pakistan ki team bahot achhi hai. Accha match hoga. Jahan tak crowd ka mamla hai, main samajhta hoon Musalman hain wahan par bahot zyada. Hume unki tarf se bhi support hogi.

“(To which the host asked Indian Musalman?) Bilkul, Indian Musalman hume badi support karte hain. Main wahan do series khela hoon, Ahmedabad aur Hyderabad mein, bahot sare log aise hain (India remain favourites at home. But there are many Muslims who come out in good numbers to support us.)“

Narrating his experience of rebel T20 league Indian Cricket League (ICL), now defunct, the 45-year-old former cricketer said, “Hum ICL khele the wahan par. Inzi bhai (Inzamam-ul-Haq) captain bane the. Indian Cricket League shuru hui thi, usme hume bada support mila wahan par. Hum duniya ki saari teams ke khilaaf khele. Wahan par jo crowd hoti (Muslim crowd) hai, wo bahot support karti hai hume.”

Naved-ul-Hasan’s statement on Indian Muslims is lame, stupid

This isn’t the first instance when a Pakistan cricketer has invoked such controversial statements. During the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, the then-Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi spoke something similar to what Hasan has made. Afridi was criticised for his politically motivated statements left-right-and-centre.

Hasan – who has represented Pakistan in 9 Tests, 74 ODIs and 4 T20Is – with his statement has questioned the loyalty of millions of Indian Muslims who support the Indian cricket team like crazy. They turn out in big numbers in the stadium and celebrate the wins and cry in defeats of their national side.

The former Pakistan cricketer seems to have confused the sporting spirit of passionate cricket fans in India. Indian crowd, like every country, backs the home team to the fullest but also appreciates good cricket and the history is full of numerous such instances.

One of the most remarkable testaments to the same is from the 1998-99 Test series between India and Pakistan. When on January 31 1999, the entire Chennai crowd present at the MA Chidambaram Stadium clapped in unison to applaud the victorious Pakistan team, who had defeated the home side by 12 runs in a nail-biting Test match.