Zaka http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashraf-c46397 welcomes BCCI’s decision to resume bilateral cricket ties – Cricket News Update
Welcoming Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) gesture to host Pakistan in a limited-overs series in December-January, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and Pakistan
will not only bring closer people of both the countries, but will also play key role in boosting the economy of the two countries.
“It is a very healthy sign that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially decided to resume cricket ties with Pakistan after the approval of their Government and we welcome this move,” said Ashraf while addressing a news conference here
at Gaddafi stadium, Lahore, on Monday evening.
Earlier, the Indian cricket board on Monday morning, officially announced to host Pakistan cricket team in three One Day Internationals and two T20 Internationals, later this year. An approval from Indian government, however, is still awaiting.
But Ashraf, who took over as PCB chairman in October last year, was quite upbeat about the series to happen.
“It seems this Pak-India cricket series will surely take place later this year in December or January next year after a gap of five years,” said the PCB chief, who had some fruitful meetings with BCCI’s top brass in May this year, when he toured India to
watch the IPL-5 final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings.
To a question about the dates and venues of the itinerary, Zaka Ashraf said that the necessary modalities will be decided with mutual understanding, but only after getting Indian government’s go ahead. However, he did opine his board will consider the comfort
of the hosts.
“We have to consider the comfort of the Indian Board in this regard (deciding venues) and I am optimistic that we will have a good understanding with them to decide the venues,” he asserted.
If it happens, this will be the first bilateral series between the nemesis since 2007, when Pakistan toured India for a full-fledged series. India was due to visit Pakistan in late 2008, but the trip was called off in the wake of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 attacks in November
2008, as the Indian government suspected Pakistan’s involvement in the deadly attacks.
Bilateral cricket ties between the two countries have been frozen since then, though Pakistan travelled to India in March last year to play 2011 World Cup semi-final against the Men in Blue. The under consideration India-Pak series is expected to serve as
a much needed ice-breaker, however it remains to be seen how the revival of cricketing relations is received by the masses on both sides, especially by the political setup of both the countries.
Tags: