Cricket

'Zinda rhe to phir milenge bhai jaan' - Fans react as Roger Binny and Rajeev Shukla cross Attari-Wagah border to visit Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023

Indian Cricket Board president Roger Binny and vice-president Rajeev Shukla crossed Attari-Wagah border to visit Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023.

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Daniel S
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Indian Cricket Board president Roger Binny & vice-president Rajeev Shukla crosses Attari-Wagah border

Indian Cricket Board president Roger Binny & vice-president Rajeev Shukla crosses Attari-Wagah border (Source: Twitter)

Indian Cricket Board president Roger Binny and vice-president Rajiv Shukla are heading to Pakistan ahead of the final Group B match and the first Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2023. Binny and Shukla crossed the Attari (India)-Wagah (Pakistan) border on Monday, September 4 and a picture of them with the armed forces has gone viral on social media.

The governing body of Indian cricket has earlier confirmed that it has nominated its president and vice-president to go to Pakistan and attend the matches during the Asia Cup 2023 campaign. The 50-over tournament is being hosted in a hybrid model after the Indian Cricket Board refused to allow its players to play in Pakistan. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has awarded Pakistan the right to host four matches, while Sri Lanka will host the remaining nine matches, including India's matches.

The latest edition of the continental event commenced on August 30 at the Multan Cricket Stadium where one of the host nations, Pakistan, faced off against Nepal. So far Pakistan have hosted two matches in Lahore and Multan, while Sri Lanka and India have played their matches in Pallekale. Pakistan will host its final two matches: Afghanistan v Sri Lanka on September 5 and Pakistan vs B2 on September 6 at the Gaddafi Stadium. After that, all matches will be played at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, including the final on September 17.

This visit is purely from the point of view of cricket: Rajiv Shukla

Binny and Shukla were invited by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to attend the continental event along with other members of the ACC. Both are likely to be present in the two upcoming matches at the Gaddafi Stadium.

“This is the first trip an Indian Cricket Board president will make to the neighbouring nation since India and Pakistan broke up their bilateral cricket relationship in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks,” Binny said earlier.

Meanwhile, Shukla made it clear that their two-day visit is only for cricket and not for political reasons. “This two-day visit is purely from the point of view of cricket, nothing political, a dinner has been hosted and three teams will be there – Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh," he said.

Here's how fans reacted: 

pakistan India Indian Cricket Board Asia Cup 2023 Roger Binny Rajeev Shukla