“If one says vanilla, the other would say chocolate” - Salman Butt takes a light-hearted dig at Ramiz Raja and Anurag Thakur over their war of words
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has taken a cheeky dig at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja and India’s sports minister Anurag Thakur over the recent war of words between the two.
Speaking to Urdu News a couple of days back, Raja said that Pakistan will not travel to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup if the Men in Blue don’t take part in the preceding Asia Cup that is scheduled to be held in Pakistan. He also claimed that the ODI World Cup in India won’t be too popular if Pakistan pull out.
Responding to the PCB chief, Thakur boasted while speaking to ANI that India is a major power in the world of sports and that no country can overlook it. “Wait for the right time”, he bragged.
Reacting to the debate between Raja and Thakur, Butt made light of the situation. He said on his YouTube channel:
“What can we say? One is the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and the other is India’s sports minister. It is not going to happen where one will say vanilla ice-cream is good and the other party would agree. If one says vanilla, the other would say chocolate and vice-versa.
“Some people use this as a podium and stand on it. The political aspect is always there, but the main issue is the betterment of cricket.”
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On a serious note, he backed Raja’s claims that the ODI World Cup in India will have fewer followers if Pakistan pull out. He opined:
“Ramiz Raja is right. Those who follow Pakistan cricket and are admirers of the team, their interest level will be less if Pakistan doesn’t play. If India-Pakistan match doesn’t happen, lot of people who were making profits would end up suffering losses.”
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan met in the Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup 2022 at a jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23. In a dramatic encounter that exceeded expectations, the Men in Blue beat Pakistan by four wickets off the last ball.
“People want to see India-Pakistan cricket” - Salman Butt
Sharing his personal views on the sensitive topic, Butt opined that fans from both countries want to see more matches between India and Pakistan. The 38-year-old stated:
“In true sense, people want to see India-Pakistan cricket. They want India to come to Pakistan and Pakistan to go to India. They want improvement in relationships.
Urging those in power on both sides to engage in fruitful discussion, Butt concluded by saying:
“I don’t know what will happen (with regard to 2023 World Cup), but at least talk should be constructive. I think they get bored sitting like that. India should play in Pakistan and Pakistan should play in India. Both nations have the right to refuse the other if one is not coming.”
Wait for the right time. India is a major power in the world of sports & no country can overlook India: Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur when asked about PCB chief Ramiz Raja's "if India does not come for Asia Cup, Pakistan won't go for 2023 WC," statement reported in media. https://t.co/JMtxHtA4IU
In the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, India and Pakistan only meet at ICC events and the Asia Cup.