Former cricketer-turned-expert Intikhab Alam is disappointed that political tensions have prevented Indo-Pak matches from taking place. He laments that leaders on both sides have let personal hatred get in the way of efforts to restore cricket links. Alam also has doubts about the hybrid format being considered for the Asia Cup, arguing that it would be illogical to play the bulk of the games in Sri Lanka rather than Pakistan. He talks about how crucial India-Pakistan matches are to the future of cricket and how much money they bring in for the ICC.
As a cricket fan, Intikhab Alam is disappointed that Rohit Sharma and the Indian squad were unable to play in Pakistan for the Continental Cup due to political issues. He thinks that governments should work towards closer ties between the two countries rather than foster continued hostility if they really believe that any problem can be handled via conversation. According to Alam, cricket would thrive more if politics stayed out of it.
Alam seems confused by the planned hybrid approach for the Asia Cup, which would prevent India from visiting Pakistan for games. Instead, other locations, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, are being investigated. He raises doubts about the fairness of the agreement, saying that it is unfair to give Pakistan so few games while hosting the bulk of the series in Sri Lanka. According to Alam, if the hybrid format is used during the World Cup, Pakistan may be forced to play their games at a different site.
Intikhab Alam believes that cricket will suffer without games between India and Pakistan. He draws attention to the enormous sums of money that the ICC earns from matches between these two Asian rivals. The former Pakistan captain stresses the importance of cricketing connections between the two countries, saying that players should meet, greet, and learn from each other.
