The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board's Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf, has reversed his earlier statement, made indirectly referring to India as an "enemy country" upon the Pakistan cricket team's arrival in Hyderabad, India for the ICC World Cup 2023.
His initial comment about maintaining player morale in an adversarial setting had sparked outrage among Indian fans.
However, in a statement from the PCB on Friday, Ashraf changed his stance, emphasizing the warm reception received by the Pakistan team in India, particularly at the Hyderabad airport.
He noted that this warm welcome exemplified the mutual affection between the people of both countries for each other's players. Ashraf expressed that while India and Pakistan may be traditional cricket rivals, they should not be considered enemies.
He expressed optimism that the camaraderie and warmth seen during the team's arrival would continue throughout the World Cup.