New Delhi, April 14: Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar joked that there are more chances of snowfall in Lahore than there is of an India-Pakistan bilateral series in the near future. Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had mooted the idea of holding a match between the two arch-rivals so as to raise funds to fight the coronavirus outbreak that has brought the world to a standstill.
"There are more chances of snowfall in Lahore than bilateral series between India and Pakistan," said Gavaskar in a Youtube chat with former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja.
"Both teams will keep on meeting in World Cups and ICC tournaments, but a series between them seems unlikely right now."
Earlier, Akhtar's suggestion got backing from his former teammate Shahid Afridi. But India's 1983 World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev said that the match doesn't need to be held because India doesn't need funds.
"The entire world is fighting against coronavirus and we need unity in our region to defeat this common enemy. Such negative comments don't help at all. I don't see anything wrong with Shoaib Akhtar's suggestion for Pakistan and India to play cricket.
"Kapil's reaction has surprised me. I expected better from him and feel one should not talk like this in these crisis times. Sport is supposed to bring people together and build bridges. It is pretty disappointing," Afridi had said.