LAHORE: India and Pakistan should play more matches against each other which would help in bringing the people from both the neighbouring countries closer, seasoned all-rounder Shoaib Malik said here on Friday.

“It is in the benefit of all if both India and Pakistan play maximum number of matches against each other as it brings entertainment not only for the people of the two countries but also for the rest of the world,” Malik said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of the national training camp which is in progress here at the Gaddafi Stadium for the forthcoming Asia Cup.

“[Playing cricket matches against each other] also brings the people of India and Pakistan closer to each other, as both are neighbouring countries, and every religion also urges [its followers] to take care of the neighbours,” the 36-year-old veteran added.

“The cricketers of India and Pakistan are professionals and they want to give their best on the field against each other. And off the field they like to behave like friends and we take meals together,” said Malik who is married to India’s top tennis star Sania Mirza. Sania is expecting her first child next month.

Malik, with 266 ODIs under his belt, said Pakistan team’s preparations for the Asia Cup were going in the right direction, noting the team had been practising in Lahore under scorching hear, an approach, he added, could prove beneficial in hot UAE weather.

“Here in Lahore the weather is humid and rainy and we will get the advantage [of practising] in the UAE to give our 100 per cent,” he said.

About the axing of seasoned batsman Mohammad Hafeez from the national squad, Malik said Hafeez had not expressed any concern over the selectors’ decision and he had the chance to come back after giving performance in domestic cricket.

“As cricketer, everybody faces such problems in their career. And the better way to deal with it is to perform on domestic circuit and also to hold table-talk with the authorities concerned to have their [player’s] reservations, if any exists, removed,” Malik added.

About the Pakistan-India clash in the Asia Cup to be held on Sept 19, Malik said it would be better if every cricketer took it as just another game and play without taking any extra pressure.

At the same time, he acknowledged the charm of an India-Pakistan match, saying it is always a thrilling occasion for the people of sub-continent and the rest of the cricketing world.

However, he cautioned, Pakistan should not treat their Asia Cup matches against other participating teams like Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as easy.

Commenting on becoming father next month, Malik said he was excited about it and hoped he would be with his wife at the time of delivery, for which the team management had already allowed him.

To a question, he said the next World T20, due to be staged in 2020, might be his last like the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Responding to a query, Malik said though Pakistan over the years had earned impressive results in Test cricket against different teams at UAE venues, the victory graphs of ODI and Twenty20 teams were not that attractive, “because playing under floodlights in the UAE is not easy”.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2018