Pakistan cricketers don’t think at all before they speak: Madan Lal

Pakistan cricketers have always been outspoken about everything related to cricket. They have never shed away from sharing their thoughts even if that might not go well with other people. When the talk is around India, they speak even more, resulting in an unwanted controversy many a time.

Recently former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar claimed that the BCCI used its influence to postpone the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup, which were scheduled this year, to conduct the IPL. Shoaib was of the opinion that BCCI had the power to manage any situation according to their own benefits. 

The speedster’s comment didn’t go well with former Indian cricketer Madan Lal, who slammed the former Pakistan player by stating that such comments are made out of jealousy.“Yes, probably the Asia Cup could have happened. But Pakistani players’ statements often reek of jealousy,” Lal said during an interview with Sports Tak.

The 1983 World Cup hero also insisted that Pakistan players always speak without thinking. “The Pakistan cricketers, a lot of them, don’t think at all before they speak. How can they claim that India has got the World Cup postponed?” asked the former cricketer.

The IPL was always going to happen: Madan Lal

The former player was of the view that scheduling of IPL was always on the cards and there were no plans of not scheduling the cash-rich league this year. “The IPL was always going to happen. We had already thought of organizing the IPL in September-October depending on the available dates. So we have planned the IPL according to that which is a very good thing,” he said.

Lal also believed that both ICC and Cricket Australia have taken the correct decision of postponing the T-20 World Cup. He said that in such time the issues of crowd absence and sponsorship issues are already resisting such tournaments to happen. 

“Firstly COVID-19 was around and T20 World Cup is a different type of tournament. Considering the absence of crowd and sponsorship issues, ICC and Cricket Australia have taken the decision to postpone it, which is a good decision,” he believed. 

Lal also put forth his view on the possibility of the future of having India versus Pakistan games. The former Indian bowler insisted that to revamp cricketing ties, first Pakistan should concentrate to give a better shape to its relations with India. “They should think about how we can improve our relations so that cricket can keep continuing, but always there are some of the other players who come and says something and the whole matter goes awry,” he said.

Madan Lal was fondly called as ‘Maddat Lal’ by his fans during his playing days. He is remembered for taking the all-important wicket of Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup which India won.