Ashraf’s statements regarding bilateral series with India were uncalled for: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 – Cricket News Update
Former chairman of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board, Ijaz Butt, has spoken out against the comments made by the current PCB chief Zaka Ashraf regarding India’s reluctance to organize a bilateral series against Pakistan, saying the statement
was irresponsible, and damaging.
“The statement was certainly uncalled for and sent adverse signals across the border,” said Ijaz Butt.
Sporting ties between Pakistan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 terrorist attacks in 2008. The last bilateral series the two teams played against each other was in 2007-2008, when Pakistan toured India for 5 ODIs
and a Test series – both of which the hosts went on to win. Following the attacks, diplomatic relations between both countries underwent a drastic change, resulting in a subsequent freeze in sporting ties.
Following his appointment as PCB chief, after Ijaz Butt stepped down from the post in October last year, Zaka Ashraf had been involved in bringing about a resumption of cricketing ties between both nations, but received no cooperation
from his Indian counterparts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This led the chairman to claim that the Men In Blue were afraid of facing the Pakistan team on the field.
“We're ready to play against them when their Prime Minister and Board president want the teams to play. Maybe it's their selectors and the team management who are afraid of facing Pakistan,” Ashraf had said.
The remarks drew criticism from Ijaz Butt, who claimed that Ashraf had only contributed to worsening the situation.
“I was personally surprised by the remarks which might have dented the prospects of a bilateral series in the near future, I am afraid,” the former chairman said.
The PCB had reconsidered their stance on the revival of cricketing ties earlier this month, stating that the BCCI’s continued silence makes any continued attempts on the PCB’s part useless.
“There’s no use of asking India any further,” http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashraf-c46397 had stated earlier this month. “Their board doesn’t want to play with us and that’s clearly understood.”
Meanwhile, the two teams recently played their first game after the World Cup semi-final at Mohali last year in March, locking horns for the 5th match of the recently concluded Asia Cup, on March 18.
India went on to win by 6 wickets, but were out of contention for the final owing to a crushing defeat at the hands of hosts http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747. Meanwhile, Pakistan went on to win the Asia Cup, defeating the home team by a narrow margin of
2 runs in the tournament final.
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