ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja admitted that Asia Cup 2018tournament would have prospered more if the game’s biggest superstar hadgraced the stage.

He said no one can blame the Indian board for wrapping their biggest assetup in cotton wool. “I don’t think Kohli’s absence has taken the shine offthe tournament entirely, but obviously he has got a massive fan following.

His presence, of course, would have helped the Asia Cup blossom that muchmore. But, you know, it’s BCCI’s internal matter,” Ramiz told Khaleej Timesduring an interview.

He said that Wednesday’s India-Pakistan encounter in Dubai would have beeneven more fascinating if Kohli was in the Indian team. “You know one partof my heart says that Kohli should have been here because Pakistan-Indiacontests are always a great one.

So India probably needed their captain taking the contest away fromPakistan after what happened at the Champions Trophy,” Ramiz said,referring to India’s stunning defeat to Pakistan in the Champions Trophyfinal last year.

“He said Kohli is raising the status of Test cricket which is great becauseTest cricket is struggling and so the superstar of the game feels that heneeds to be fresh when India travel to Australia for the Test series laterthis year.”

To a question, he said that “All the past records, all your pastperformances come to zilch when India and Pakistan meet because it’s theperformance on the day that matters.

It’s about how the players take the pressure and the weather conditions.

You need to be mentally very strong,” he said. Ramiz refused to rule outthe chances of the other teams in the tournament.

“I think Bangladesh played brilliantly in the first match. They have beenplaying really well in limited overs cricket. Then you have Sri Lanka andAfghanistan. There is pressure because any team on these pitches cansurprise you,” he added.