India and Pakistan on Sunday perhaps played the game of the 2022T20 World Cup at the MCG. The Indian team Pakistan by 4 wickets in a last ball thriller that sent the Indian fans into a frenzy. Virat Kohli played a stellar knock with 82 not out off 53 balls adding over 100 runs with Hardik Pandya for the 5th wicket.
The atmosphere on the ground may have reached fever pitch but the atmosphere off the pitch especially on the newsroom was as heated. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh got into a verbal due with a Pakistani news anchor on live debate which has grabbed all the headlines.
The story as it happened –
India and Pakistan just play the ICC or the Asian Cricket Council tournament namely the Asia Cup. The match on Sunday was the 3rd meeting between the two teams this year. Earlier BCCI had said they will not send the Indian team to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup 50 over tournament. The PCB in response said they will not send the team to India will pull out of the 50 over world cup to be held in India next year.
Pakistani journalist pokes the bear –
The entire incident happened when Harbhajan Singh was a guest on the Aaj Tak show for the big game on Sunday. The Pakistani news anchor poked Bhajji by saying that India was showing no keenness to tour Pakistan.
Replying to this Harbhajan Singh said “Ramiz Raza had given a statement last year that Pakistan Cricket does not have the kind of money and that they need to look towards the BCCI. Either that or if the BCCI offers PCB money, Pakistan cricket is surviving. If you feel, you don't want to come to India, please don't. Who is asking you? If you don't want to play the ICC event, it's your call. If our players are not safe there, we won't send. Don't play if that's what you want, Of course, we have (security concerns). You tell me that you'll take the guarantee? Indian cricket can still survive without Pakistan, and if you guys can survive without Indian cricket, do it."
Journalist lays down a challenge as Bhajji replies –
This verbal beatdown did not sit down well with the news anchor from across the border as he challenged the Indian team. The news anchor was heard saying “Harbhajan sahab abhi keh rahe hain, 'Hum nahi aayenge'. Mera inko challenge hai... agar ICC ka tournament, woh bhi World Cup Pakistan mein hua, ye na aayein toh mujhe batayein”
Replying to this, Harbhajan Singh came out all guns blazing and said “Toh le liya bhai tera challenge. Indian cricket knows how to run their cricket. We don't need PCB. We have an issue and we have said it. If the government gives the approval, sure,"
The last time India toured Pakistan was in 2008 was for the Asia Cup. India team’s last full fledged tour of Pakistan was in 2006 for a 3 match test series and 5 match ODI series. In the current team only Rohit Sharma has played in Pakistan when he toured in 2008. Harbhajan Singh finally concluded by saying “See, that is not in my hands, right? It is not my decision. If everyone feels the situation is fine, and that the two countries should play cricket, the authorities will take that call, and there will be cricket. And it has never happened previously that a team has come to India to play a series and had any issues”