Former India all-rounder and 1983 World Cup winner Madan Lal has once again spoken openly about the India-Pakistan cricketing rivalry, stressing that India should not shy away from competing against Pakistan if the two sides meet in the Asia Cup Super 4 stage. His remarks came after Suryakumar Yadav and Co. demolished Pakistan with a dominant 7-wicket victory on Sunday, exposing their lack of depth and strategy.

With India already sealing their Super 4 berth, Pakistan now face a must-win clash against the UAE. If they succeed, fans could be treated to another blockbuster India vs Pakistan encounter in Dubai next Sunday. While the cricketing world is always divided on whether the two arch-rivals should play against each other, Madan Lal argued that avoiding matches does little good.

Despite rising voices calling for a boycott of India-Pakistan games, the BCCI continues to follow the Indian government’s instructions. As there are no bilateral series, both teams cross paths only in ICC and ACC multi-nation tournaments, where politics takes a back seat and cricket does the talking.

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Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also defended the government’s stance, reiterating that these fixtures are not bilateral but part of international obligations. Speaking to CNN-News18, Madan Lal echoed similar sentiments, insisting that India must face Pakistan again, not to keep the rivalry alive, but to show Pakistan how far they have fallen behind.

“Not playing against each other doesn’t solve anything. Many say cricket is only about money. But can you run the game without money? No,” Madan Lal explained, pointing to the BCCI’s financial might. “Indian cricket is a multi-billion-dollar industry now. They invest in infrastructure, create pathways like India A tours, and nurture talent systematically. That’s why the standards of Indian cricket remain so high.”

Lal was scathing in his assessment of Pakistan’s current state. “Look at Pakistan. Jaisa wo khele hain… unmein talent hi nahi hai (they lack serious talent). I’ve never seen such poor shot selection in international cricket. It’s a complete lack of skill,” he remarked.

He went on to highlight how India makes better use of its cricketing revenues compared to Pakistan.

“Even the BCCI gives pensions to former cricketers. That’s such a massive help. They’re doing a fantastic job. But Pakistan sudhrega nahi… (Pakistan won’t improve),” he added. The former pacer didn’t stop there, pointing at the political interference in Pakistan cricket. “They once had a strong team, but now cricket is influenced by the army. They are the ones taking crucial calls. That’s why the decline is so evident.”

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Comparing cultures, Madan Lal noted that Indian cricket has always valued its players, while in Pakistan, former stars often publicly humiliate current ones. “We do criticise, but we don’t abuse them. That’s the difference in sporting culture.”

Ending on a motivational note, Madan Lal wished the Men in Blue success in the coming matches. “Play the game the way it should be played. Keep your spirits high, play hard, and bring the Asia Cup home.”