Atmosphere would be terrible at a Pakistan vs India clash according to Imran Khan

Political tension between Pakistan and India means that the likelihood of a bilateral test series is extremely low. At the moment the relations between both countries is so poor because the Pakistan government has failed to stop cross border terrorism. As a result of this the Indian government has canceled all ties with Pakistan.

India and Pakistan last faced each other in the World Cup in 2019 where India thrashed Pakistan.

Imran Khan, former international skipper for Pakistan has said the atmosphere would be terrible at the grounds if India and Pakistan were to face each other. 

Imran Khan has played matches in both scenarios where there has been hostility and joy when facing India. In a statement he recalled two games where the atmospheres were completely different

“I played two series in India. One in 1979 when the two governments were trying to come close. I can’t tell you how wonderful the atmosphere was on the cricket field. Big crowds,” Imran Khan said on the Out Of Exile documentary on Sky Sports.

“The next time I went was in 1987 and this time, there was tension between the two governments I saw hostility in India which I had never seen before. Our players were being pelted from the ground and I made them wear helmets while fielding at the boundary. It wasn’t a very good atmosphere on certain grounds,” he added.

He recalled another scenario in 2005 when India won the World Cup.  “When India came to Pakistan in 2005, again the governments were trying to get close. I never thought I would see on a cricket ground what happened. Pakistan lost to India in Pakistan and the crowds cheered the Indian team. Great atmosphere.

“Right now, playing cricket in this atmosphere with this sort of a government in power, I would imagine it would be a terrible atmosphere on the cricket ground.

“There’s nothing quite like the Ashes for the English. But Pakistan-India series is just in a different league in terms of tension, pressure, and enjoyment,” he added.