http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Asif-Iqbal-c46477 advises caution in regards to Indo-Pak series – Cricket News Update
Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal has urged caution in regards to the recently announced bilateral series due to be played between Pakistan and India in December/January for the first time since 2007, pointing out that the relations between the two countries are extremely volatile, and prone to abrupt change.
“I am happy that finally it looks like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 and India will be playing a bilateral series ... but I would still urge a word of caution keeping in mind the relations between the two countries,” Iqbal said in conversation with a Pakistani news channel.
The cricketing relations between both teams have always been heavily dominated by politics, and determined by the diplomatic relations between their respective governments. The bilateral ties between both teams came to a halt following the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, after which relations between India and Pakistan became strained.
Pakistan had toured India in 2007, and it was the Men In Blue’s turn to visit their neighbours, but owing to a directive by the Indian government, the tour was called off in the wake of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 attacks. What followed was a complete deadlock in the sporting relations between the two teams.
The BCCI refused to consider the repeated attempts by PCB chairman Zaka http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashraf-c46397 to initiate a revival of ties, and the barring of Pakistani players from the Indian Premier League auctions was also reported to have been motivated by political reasons. Prior to the 2012 edition, BCCI vice-president and IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla claimed that the inclusion of Pakistani players in the tournament depended entirely upon the ties between the two countries.
The recent developments which hinted at a move towards the resumption of ties were also heavily influenced by politics. Although http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750’s foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai recently stated that the matter was between the BCCI and PCB alone, both boards reached a decision regarding a bilateral series after consultation with senior politicians.
The long-awaited series promises to be an exciting contest between the archrivals, and will consist of 3 ODIs and 2 T20Is, due to be played in December 2012/January 2013.
“I have always said Pakistan and India must play regularly ... Indo-Pak matches are no less iconic than the Ashes,” Asif said. “Eventually if regular bilateral ties are held it will help young players from both countries and also help improve relations on a broader level.”
However, the decision to revive ties has also prompted criticism from the likes of former Indian captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sunil-Manohar-Gavaskar-c91863, who has slammed the BCCI for arranging a series while the Mumbai terror attack probe is still ongoing.
“Being a Mumbaikar, I would say yes. What is the urgency when there is no co-operation from the other side,” he said.
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