Taliban leader Anas Haqqani urges Virat Kohli to play against Pakistan

Cricket fans worldwide eagerly await the high-voltage clashes between India and Pakistan, and now, an unusual voice has joined the chorus of anticipation. Anas Haqqani, a senior Afghan Taliban leader, has urged former India Test captain Virat Kohli, popularly known as “King Kohli,” to play in an India-Pakistan fixture.

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Taliban leader Anas Haqqani, who has often expressed his love for cricket, reacted to Kohli’s sudden decision to retire from Test cricket. Speaking in an interview with journalist Shubhankar Mishra, Haqqani admitted he was “surprised” by the Indian star’s retirement announcement. He said he hoped Kohli would continue playing at the highest level for many more years, even joking that the Indian great should play until the age of 50.

Haqqani on Kohli:

“I don’t know the reason behind Kohli’s retirement. Only a few people in the world are that unique. My wish is that he should try to play till he is 50 years old,” Haqqani remarked. While he considered Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement more understandable, he emphasized that cricket’s charm would be different if Kohli and Rohit were still in the arena, especially against Pakistan.

The comments come against the backdrop of strained ties between Pakistan and the Taliban, making the remarks even more notable.

Meanwhile, Kohli and Rohit are preparing for the ODI leg of their careers. Both are expected to travel to Australia in October for a three-match series, keeping fans excited about their continued presence in limited-overs cricket.