Misbah perturbed by anti-Pakistan protest

E-Paper | March 15, 2026

KARACHI: Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq on Wednesday expressed concerns following the recent anti-Pakistan protests in Mumbai, because Pakistan are scheduled to travel to India for the World T20 in March 2016.

The scheduled meeting between BCCI president Shashank Manohar and PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan on Monday to discuss the proposed India-Pakistan series was disrupted by a group of 50 workers from regional political party Shiv Sena, who stormed the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, shouted anti-Pakistan slogans and demanded the cancellation of the proposed series.

Following the protests, the ICC withdrew Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar from the remaining two ODIs between India and South Africa, while Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, who are in India as part of the Star Sports commentary team, are also returning to Pakistan after the fourth ODI in Chennai.

Pakistan Test captain Misbah said he was disappointed with political interference in sporting activity.

“It’s always disappointing,” he said in Dubai. “It’s not just about India-Pakistan; wherever it happens it is disappointing. I believe politics should be separated from sports. Otherwise it’s really difficult for all nations that are playing the game and we all should play each other.

“When Australia didn’t tour Bangladesh recently that was disappointing as well,” Misbah said. “As cricketers we want to play each other, and we don’t want any sort of politics involved in this sport.”

Pakistan have no intention of pulling out from the World T20 in India, which will be played at eight venues including Mumbai, but Misbah spoke of strong concerns about playing in India amid political tension.

“These are the big concerns,” Misbah said, referring to the protests. “Obviously when these sort of things happen, that really puts something in your mind. I don’t know what is going to happen but obviously these are the big concerns. You don’t want to restrict yourself not to play here and there. We really want to play everywhere and enjoy the game.”

This is not the first time Pakistan have expressed such concerns. The Pakistan women’s team was forced to play their 2013 World Cup group matches in Cuttack, following threats from political activists in Mumbai.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2015

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talha

Oct 22, 2015 09:10am

He should be worried about the batting "collapse" in first test against England.

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Lakha

Oct 22, 2015 10:02am

@talha for the past 12 months Pakistan has the highest average per batsmen (43) among all test playing nations. They have also scored the most number of centuries. One batting collapse and everyone suddenly loses their minds.

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Abbas Ali

Oct 22, 2015 10:14am

Pay attention to your team's batting performance. He is already preparing the excuse for the defeat in the second. Excuse will be boys were under pressure due to situation in India.

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Krezy

Oct 22, 2015 10:16am

Austrlia put off their tour to Bangladesh wasnt based on political rather a security reason...

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talha

Oct 22, 2015 10:45am

@LAKHA Please see the test match record of Pakistan in last one and a half year. They have played only on subcontinent pitches. they can not play on bouncy pitches and the last time they played on bouncy pitch they were thrashed by SA with 3-0 margin. They were supposed to beat England but they escaped defeat thanks to bad light.

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Lost cause

Oct 22, 2015 11:22am

His concern is legitimate. They are cricketers not jihadis.

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Ahmed A.

Oct 22, 2015 11:46am

Well said Misbah. Obviously players should be concerned of anything like that, regardless of where it happens. Security concerns cannot be ignored. Those talking about Pakistani batting collapses should try to stay on the subject - not dilute the whole argument by including matters irrelevant to this particular argument.

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Vectra

Oct 22, 2015 11:48am

But then what is the reason to blame entire India on what was happened in Maharashtra by just one group.By blaming the entire India doeasn't pakistan and PCB creates enmity with India's other states as well where the pakistani matches will be played sans Maharashtra similar to 2011 WC arrangement where pakistan matches were not scheduled in Maharashtra due to Shiv Sena threat and protection of pakistani players??.India territory is so vast that pakistan-india matched can be played outside the Maharashtra state as simple as that.So why blame entire India???

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Good Point

Oct 22, 2015 11:51am

Misbah, Akram are respected very much in India. I think Misbah wishes to retire after IndPak series and that woukd be honour to India as well. Sena is fighting for 2008 justice which all Indians would support but the means look wrong.

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UNBIASED

Oct 22, 2015 11:58am

Every country has some idiots; you are welcome in India and you should not let the hooligans scare you. The best response would be to win the cup (though of course I would wish India to win and Pakistan to be the runners up).

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truthbetold

Oct 22, 2015 12:41pm

Please don't come. You are not invited

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Prateek

Oct 22, 2015 01:34pm

Misbah holds a good chance of being offered a role of a mentor or coach for a IPL team in India in future for his extensive captaincy experience.

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Adnan

Oct 22, 2015 01:37pm

@Abbas Ali don't be negitive, he had to response if someone from media ask questions, Misbah isn't holding press conference about these matters , use common sense !

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Adnan

Oct 22, 2015 01:38pm

@truthbetold don't need to shout out about your true face, no one asked your opinion!

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Hasan

Oct 22, 2015 04:21pm

In view of threats & honor of Pakistan, Pakistani team should not go to India to participate in T20 tournament.

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Rao

Oct 22, 2015 04:53pm

India is using every opportunity to isolate Pakistan. This time we should take the stance and there is no need to be a part of World T20. Pakistan should only play when the World cup should be shifted outside of India.

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sajid

Oct 22, 2015 05:01pm

Pakistan should convince ICC to hold their matches in Dubai

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Shahid

Oct 22, 2015 06:07pm

@talha I think you'll find a man of Misbah's class will concern himself with most things (on as well off the field). After all, hes respected all over the world, great batsman, fantastic captain, and speaks very independently and articulately. Why not the guys an MBA, and people with sound knowledge and appreciation want to hear what he has to say (like the Indians). I highly doubt a man of his calibre, would be concerned with comments from people like yourself.

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Shahid

Oct 22, 2015 06:36pm

@talha Big men play big shots and make big staements. You might want to learn thing or two.

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Prakash Puthalath

Oct 22, 2015 08:13pm

Misbah, Indian public is not ant-Pakistani. Shiva Sena is just a bunch of trouble-makers doing these silly things for publicity. They are at logger heads even with Central govt. headed by Modi.

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Sunil Lakhanpal

Oct 24, 2015 03:08pm

Misbah truely and sportingly saying "we really want to play everywhere and enjoy the game" that is the sports spirit . India continues to fall cultural bottom ,common people have no say all is controlled by politics wings . Indian press have done little to lift the common people spirits that is sport is above nation and ploitics, hence the degeneration has croped up into the political parties . with the present indian central govt ,there is no hope that they take any strong stand but they allow tamasha and enjoy the ruling ...

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