The much-awaited clash between India and Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2018 is expected to register a record number of audience as the arch-rivals haven’t played each other since the final of the Champions Trophy last year in England. Due to the strained political relations, the neighboring countries played their last bilateral series since 2012. However, the veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik feels that both the teams should play each other more often which will improve the relations across the border.
In CT 2017 final, Pakistan got the better of India as they registered a massive 180-run victory. In the upcoming tournament, they are expected to face twice and possibly thrice if both the teams qualify for the final. Talking about the same Malik revealed that his team has to take as just any other game as there is a lot at stake. As a professional, one has to approach this game normally which will not let the pressure take over your mind.
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Shoaib also opined that the players of both the teams know how to behave on and off the field, he said, “India and Pakistan should play more matches. Because people from both countries travel between the countries when bi-lateral series happens, it helps in uniting the people. Both team’s players are professionals and they know how to behave on the field and off the field. When we are not playing against each other, we are having meals together and that is how it should be, not only with India-Pakistan but with other teams also.”
Before the marriage of Indian power couple, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza was the most discussed marriage in the cricketing fraternity. Unfortunately, their relationship was also scrutinized as Mirza, the Indian Tennis star, marrying a Pakistan cricketer wasn’t been an acceptable thing for the people of both the countries. Eight years after their marriage, the couple is expecting a baby and there have been numerous speculations about its nationality.
Both, Sania and Shoaib, have cleared many times that they haven’t married the Pakistan cricketer to unite both the countries. But the question continues to pop up in the media every now and then which annoys the couple. However, amidst of his preparations for Asia Cup, Malik was recently asked about his baby’s nationality by one of the reporters. One of the reporters asked him, “What will be the nationality of your baby?”
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Malik, who irked by the question, came up with a smart reply to shut down the debate once and for all. He said, “If you were a proper uncle you wouldn’t ask such a question.”
Meanwhile, Shoaib and his team under the leadership of Sarfraz Ahmed will be facing India on September 19 in the Asia Cup. There is also a possibility of the two teams facing four days later in the Super Four stage of the tournament.
