former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has praised Prime Minister Narendra Mod on his decision to extend the coronavirus lockdown till May 3rd.
Akhtar, who has played 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 T20 Internationals in his career, also said that better bilateral relations can be formed between India and Pakistan at such a time. He said that by organizing a cricket series between India and Pakistan, good bilateral relations between the two countries can be built through sports.
Akhtar had also said earlier that a cricket series should be organized between India and Pakistan to raise funds in the fight against Coronavirus.
However, Kapil Dev slammed Shoaib Akhtar’s idea of holding a cricket series during such a time stating “India doesn’t need the money” and it is not worth risking lives for a cricket match.'
Kapil Dev said cricket should not even matter for at least the next six months.
Even former Inda opener Sunil Gavaskar slammed the idea of an India-Pakistan bilateral series proposed by Shoaib Akhtar, saying there are more chances of 'snowfall in Lahore' than the two Asian giants featuring in a series anytime soon.
During this period, Akhtar had also appealed to India to help Pakistan. He had requested India to make 10,000 ventilators. '
Shoaib Akhtar in response to Sunil Gavaskar said: 'Well Sunny bhai, we did have a snowfall in Lahore last year :) So nothing is impossible.'
Former Pakistan skipper Saqlain Mushtaq also called for resuming cricketing ties between India and Pakistan stating if the neighbours play, 'there is a possibility of relations improving'