Former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf has wished the Indian cricket team luck ahead of its much-anticipated clash with their arch-rivals Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval in their first match in the World Cup, Press Trust of India reported.
Heaping praise on Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Musharraf said that the people enjoyed watching the aggressive batting of Dhoni. “He is a very smart person and I wish him all the best for tomorrow’s match.”
However, in the next breath, he said that as a patriotic Pakistani, he would like the country’s team to win the match against the defending champions.
He also accepted that the Indian team is far superior to the Pakistan side. “With a batting line—up comprising Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Indian team looks stronger. “But as far as the Pakistan team is concerned, they have the potential to defeat the best team and they can lose the match against the worst team,” he told Zee News.
Musharaff said that cricket diplomacy should be used for the betterment of bilateral relations.
He said that it should not be used to enhance bitterness and increase the tension.
“Game should be taken in sportsman spirit. I remember one particular match in Lahore where the Indian team was playing and the entire Lahore crowd was cheering up, and both the nations are very enthusiastic about it.”
Commenting on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s telephonic conversation with Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif, Musharraf said that it will help in easing the tension.