Considering the ongoing political tensions between the countries, Malik wants the game to be not called a ‘war’. “It’s my own opinion but the word ‘war’ is a very strange word to me. I don’t think it’s good to use that word – definitely not in sports,” he told Cricket Pakistan.

[caption id=”attachment_104577″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Malik poses with the trophy following Pakistan’s 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final victory over India[/caption]

“When you deal with ‘love’, then everything becomes a bit easier – whether it’s cricket or any other sports. It unites people together.”

37-year old Malik was part of the Pakistan side that lifted the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy with an emphatic 180-run win over India at The Oval, but their last three outings against Virat Kohli’s side in the 50-over game have ended in defeat.

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The World Cup fixture between the two sides is a good way to eradicate certain ‘illusions’, thinks Malik.

“When people travel across nations and feel the warmth and love they receive, then a lot of illusions wither away,” he said.

Malik announced announced in June 2018 that he was stepping down from ODI duties after the World Cup in England, having already amassed 282 caps in the format, with 156 wickets to his name alongside 44 half-centuries and nine tons.