Karachi: Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan has expressed his displeasure over the friendly interactions between Pakistani and Indian cricketers during matches.
Moin Khan appeared on a talk show hosted by actress and host Ushna Shah, where he voiced concerns about the increasingly friendly atmosphere between current Pakistani cricketers and their Indian counterparts on the field.
In response to a question from Ushna Shah, who remarked that in the past, Pakistani cricketers received immense love from across the border, Moin Khan agreed but added that things had changed. He specifically mentioned how Pakistani players, including star cricketers like Virat Kohli, are now seen posing for pictures with Indian players, which he found concerning.
“I feel sad when I see our players laughing and playing with Indian cricketers. I have always maintained mutual respect with all players, but at one point, our team was far ahead of India. Today, they are ahead of us! The margin we once created is still carried by them,” said Moin Khan.
He further explained that while there have always been good relations between Pakistani and Indian cricketers, it was never the case that a Pakistani player would check the bat of his Indian counterpart or behave too friendly. “Our players send the wrong message, and they don’t even realize it,” he added.
Moin Khan emphasized that such actions weaken a team’s mental toughness, allowing the opposing team to gain an upper hand. “When you act like this, the rival team feels stronger because you start mentally falling behind,” he explained.
The former cricketer also noted that he had always tried to advise players against such behavior, recalling how legendary players like Wasim Akram were also critical of such interactions. “Players like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar never engaged in jokes, bat-checking, or selfies with Indian cricketers during matches,” he concluded.
