PCB chief invited for IPL final by BCCI – Cricket News Update
In a friendly gesture, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has sent http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board chairman, Zaka Ashraf, an invitation for the final of the ongoing Indian Premier League, due to be played between two yet undecided opponents on May 27 at the
MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai.
“I see the invitation as another positive step forward in further normalising bilateral cricket ties between the two countries,” said http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashraf-c46397, who is currently in London.
“The invitation will allow me to undertake a two-day visit to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and I plan to use this visit to have informal discussions with the Indian board officials regarding enhancing chances of restoring bilateral cricket ties,” he added.
Indo-Pak cricket has been in a state of suspension since 2008 – the terrorist attacks in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 led to a freeze in diplomatic relations between the two countries, causing a subsequent deadlock in the sporting ties. The last bilateral series between the two
nations was played in November 2007, a limited-overs series in India which the host team won, 3-2.
Political tension led the BCCI to express reluctance about reviving the ties between the two countries, despite the insistence and requests of the PCB.
The strained relations between the two countries also led to the exclusion of Pakistani players from the IPL, despite the fact that they had been available for auction and participated during the very first season of the tournament in 2008. The move was
resented by the PCB and players alike, and ex-IPL chief http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lalit-Kumar-Modi-c72144 eventually revealed that the exclusion of Pakistani players had been owing to direct commands by the BCCI.
However, the current gesture implies openness on the part of the BCCI to revive the relations between the two countries, and whether they can reach common ground remains to be seen.
“We want to play India regularly in bilateral matches and we are willing to talk to them at every level to achieve this. I will be speaking to them on this when I go to India,” said Ashraf, who has been working on improving the sporting relations between
the two countries after taking over as chairman from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 last year.
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