Cricket ties between Pakistan and India could be restored as early as next year, with Pakistan’s top cricket official on Monday saying he’s hoping to host India in a test series.
”We are planning to host India in February 2004,” Pakistan Cricket Board Chairperson, General Tauqir Zia told reporters in Lahore. Zia said he had had ”productive” talks with his Indian counterpart Jagmohan Dalmiya during the Asian Cricket Foundation’s meeting in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the weekend.
”They are more than willing to send their team to Pakistan, but they need their government’s clearance,” Zia said.
Pakistani political leaders say sport could be one of the first areas to benefit from a diplomatic thaw between the Asian neighbours. Indian cricket officials also say they are keen to resume matches against their archrivals. Apart from a March clash in the World Cup, India and Pakistan haven’t played since 2000 because of tension over Kashmir. India blames Pakistan for backing Islamic militants in the divided region, despite Islamabad’s denials. India were scheduled to tour Pakistan April 8-May 15, but New Delhi refused to allow its players to travel, citing security concerns.
Under a schedule laid out by cricket’s international body, Pakistan is to tour India next February. But Pakistani officials insist India must still tour here first.
”That’s why we want India to switch over next year’s series and come to Pakistan,” Zia said.
India has not played test series in Pakistan since 1989. Pakistan last toured India in 1999-2000. In other moves to repair cricket relations in the region, Pakistan and India were confirmed among six countries contesting the Asia Cup Cricket Championship next April, India’s cricket chief said Monday.
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and the UAE will also compete in the championship at a venue yet to be set, Dalmiya told reporters on his return to Calcutta from the meeting in Dubai. Dalmiya, India’s cricket board president and chairperson of the Asian Cricket Foundation, which promotes development of the sport, said he was quite hopeful bilateral cricket matches between India and Pakistan would be restored.
”Everybody realised that the Indo-Pak tie is crucial for the game,” said Dalmiya.
The two nations nearly went to war last year; but last week the countries’ prime ministers spoke on the telephone, and Pakistan’s Zafarullah Khan Jamali suggested renewing cricket matches. Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee didn’t rule it out, saying he would leave it to those who control sport.
It signals a bending of India’s past stance, where it was a matter of national pride to not play Pakistan in bilateral matches. – Sap-AP