Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif recently expressed his surprise at how smoothly India agreed to face Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup encounter, a development he believes has deflated much of the anticipated excitement surrounding the high-profile match. According to Latif, the absence of controversy or hurdles leading up to the clash has diminished the usual buzz that typically accompanies India-Pakistan showdowns.
The Indian government granted permission for the national cricket team to participate in the international tournament and face off against their arch-rivals in Dubai on September 14. However, the longstanding ban on bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan remains in place. Latif remarked in an interview that such matches tend to attract significant attention when there are obstacles or dramatic build-ups in the background. “Surprisingly, India agreed to play Pakistan easily, and that is why there is no hype around the contest,” he said.
Adding to the unexpected nature of the situation, Rashid Latif pointed out that ticket sales for the match have been unusually slow, a situation unprecedented in India-Pakistan clashes. “It is houseful wherever these two teams play, but this time the tickets are still available in Dubai,” he noted. The 56-year-old former wicketkeeper also attributed the lower-than-expected interest, in part, to the steep ticket prices set for the game. “The expensive tickets have impacted the build-up,” he added, while maintaining confidence that the match would eventually garner excitement as it draws closer.