It's cricket, not war: Intikhab

Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam has a simple wish: people should treat the semifinal between his country and India here Wednesday as a game of cricket and not as war.

"I hope things get normal again. Pakistan have gone through one of their worst phases in cricket history," Intikhab told IANS at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium where the match will be played.

"I would request all not to hype this match as a war. It is a simple game of cricket between two good teams, and I would like all to enjoy the match like that only."

Pakistan were ostracised by the international cricket community in the wake of the Lahore terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 and after being dropped as World Cup co-hosts.

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