http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zaheer-Abbas-c98435 suggests shared stadium at Indo-Pak border for resumption of cricketing ties
Batting legend and former Pakistan player Zaheer Abbas on Tuesday suggested constructing a new stadium at the India-Pakistan border in a bid to revive cricketing relations between the two countries.
“Build a stadium at Wagah border so that there are no problems of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 not going to India,” said Abbas while talking to the media.
“Half of the portion should be in Pakistan and half should be in India so that fans don’t need any visa. Pakistani fans should support their team from their side and Indians from their side and this example could also be followed in other sports,” he added
further.
The recent ICC World Cup 2011 semi-final played at the Wankhede Stadium in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 was the first match between the archrivals in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead and several injured. The lethal incident badly strained ties between
the two neighbouring countries and also stalled cricketing relations.
However, since the semi-final, termed as “mother of all games” by many, there have been suggestions that cricket and other sports should be resumed between the two countries.
Abbas, famously known as the Asian Bradman, suggested a shared stadium could play a key role in resumption of sporting ties between the archrivals. The 63-year-old, who played 62 One Day Internationals and 78 Test matches during his 16-year long cricketing
career, is also hugely popular in India for his aggressive batting style which earned him the Asian Bradman title.
Abbas, who worked as a cricket expert for an Indian channel during the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2011, said that sports of both countries often suffer because of political reasons but now people from both the sides want their sportsmen playing against
each other.
“Sports of both the countries have suffered because of the politics, but people from both the sides want to see their teams playing – be it hockey, cricket or any other sport,” added Abbas.
The Pakistan Cricket Board officials including the chairman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 have said that they are in talks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India for a short series between the two countries- even if that is to be played at a neutral venue.
However, Abbas did not support the neutral venue option and said it would deprive the people of two countries of the thrill and excitement of the mouth-watering series.
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