Ravichandran Ashwin responded that he wasn’t even aware of such comments until he was made aware of them in the same news conference on Monday, following Ramiz Raja’s emphasis that the Pakistan cricket team has begun to expect respect from the Indian squad.
Ramiz Raja, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), recently made a forceful comment regarding the cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan. Ramiz emphasized that Pakistan is now being “respected” by the Indian squad as a rival while also referring to Rohit Sharma’s team as a “billion-dollar side.” When India legend Ravichandran Ashwin learned of Ramiz’s remarks, he responded appropriately. In a press conference on Monday from Australia, Ashwin claimed that he had only learned of Ramiz’s remarks.
“I was unaware that he had made such a statement until you mentioned it. That is one method of handling things, “Speaking to reporters in Perth, Ashwin remarked.
“But look, it’s a cricket match. Whatever the ongoing political conflicts and whatever happens between the teams, the rivalry is intense and important to the citizens of both nations. But regardless of what you may think, as a cricket player and someone who participates in the sport, you do realize that victories and defeats are a part of the game, especially in this format where the margins of victory and defeat will be so small “Added he.
Ramiz Raja previously discussed how far the men’s national team has advanced in the last few years, to the point where even the powerful Indians have begun to appreciate them, in an interview with Pakistani news site Dawn.
“Unhone hume respect dena shuru kardiya hain kyunki unke khayal me yeh hain ki Pakistan hume kabhi hara hi nehi sakte. Pakistan humesha se underdogs rahein hain jab bhi India se muqabla huye hain. Therefore, Yehi Main Kehta Hu (Pakistan have always been underdogs whenever they have played against India) ki Pakistan ko credit dijiye kyunki ek billion-dollar team cricket industry ko hum harate he. However, recently, they have begun to treat them with respect, realizing that they are vulnerable in this struggle. Pakistan should be credited for this because India is a “billion-dollar” team “In Raja’s words.
Pakistan defeated India in a World Cup match for the first time ever during the T20 World Cup last year. Before that World Cup encounter in the UAE, the neighboring nation had never defeated India, whether it was in a 50-over or T20 format.
On October 23, the two teams will face off once more in the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2022.
