However, despite the snub handed out by India, speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Ashraf said that cricket relations between the neighbouring countries were quickly improving.
“Relations between the boards are improving and the steps taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are appreciable in this regard,” said Ashraf. “The invitation to Sialkot Stallions was the first step towards rebuilding good relations. In India, I met the politicians, the media and the BCCI officials. All were supportive for the revival of bilateral series.”
Both countries have not played a series since the 2008 Mumbai attacks but Ashraf hoped that the wait will be too long now.
“The fans will get good news soon. The BCCI President N Srinivasan said that the matter will be discussed during the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) annual conference in Kuala Lumpur. I felt that the Indian board wants to resume matches this year.”
The PCB chairman also added that he met cricket chiefs from Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in India and spoke about improving ties.
“Reviving cricket ties with India is the toughest task from Pakistan’s point of view. We are also in talks with other boards like we were with the Bangladesh board. Hopefully they will come to Pakistan soon but we can’t disclose the details.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2012.
COMMENTS (18)
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Good job, Mr Zaka. I must say you are 100 times smarter than Butt, and regardless of the comments by some overly jingoistic Indians..I support you in your cause....just like I am sure many many Indians also want revival of bilateral India - Pakistan cricket.
@ gp65 Ashwin's argument never mentioned the reluctance of other teams to play IN Pakistan. Yes the security fears have kept international cricket away from Pakistan but Ashwin's argument regarding the proliferation being a reason is plain ludicrous and emotionally motivated. If one is hoping that such nonsensical remarks would pass as sound reasoning then......it calls into questions one's own intelligence.
"India too is willing to play outside Pakistan but the bottleneck is that PCB wants India to play at least one one Day and one T-20 IN Pakistan"
Could you point out a single impartial source which clearly mentions that the hosting of the series has been made CONDITIONAL to India playing one match in Pakistan. Has to be impartial.
Put the team atop HaftVII and fire them across. It will serve two purposes. 1, You will be able to test in reality the accuracy and tarrain hugging capability of missile, We will know whether it landed on pitch of stadium or not (or is it pavellion?) 2. You will force Indians to play cricket with Pakistan
@HRo: Did you ever ask what stand your country has in the world on anything?? try that...
@Obaid: "Pakistan has played Test and one days series with every test playing nation in the past 2-3 years expect India. Don’t let your hate obscure sound judgement".
You are correct. But none of these tests have been played IN Pakistan. India too is willing to play outside Pakistan but the bottleneck is that PCB wants India to play at least one one Day and one T-20 IN Pakistan. This is someting the BCCI is unwiling to do - though it is wiling to give a large part of revenue to PCB for matches hosted in India.
@ Ashwin
Taking up from Dinesh’s comments, India is engaging in trade with Pakistan (for economic benefits obviously) but no public sentiments there. Given this fact it would seems that either the ruling Congress party or the so called public sentiments is exercising double standards.
"Pakistanis should understand that Indian — as much as the remaining cricketing nations — would not like to play cricket with a country that supports terrorism and does not check its proliferation."
Pakistan has played Test and one days series with every test playing nation in the past 2-3 years expect India. Don't let your hate obscure sound judgement
Zaka seems a modified version of Ijaz Butt on the opposite side. Butt was too rude and Zaka is humble to an extent that he is riduling Pakistan himself.... We still have some standing and begging is not serving the purpose
@dpd: "Guys, Their are eight other nations to play with. Try and get the English or the Australians to kick start the cricket by inviting them to Pakistan. First get the ball rolling and the rest will follow"
Ummm not sure if you have been following news. Even Bangladesh is unwilling to send its team to Pakistan. India was willing to play with Pakistan - just not send its team
For all those Pakistanis who ask why - so keen to play with India? Because it gets the most revenue for PCB. Otherwise this PCB head who made pretty arrogant statements about Indians being afraid of Pakistan would not have taken a U-turn so quickly.
@Abdul Rahman Khan: ego is something and pcb should not stoop so low as to leave aside the national prestige ego. Given the state of economics of PCB and of cricket in Pakistan, there isn't much of a choice for Pakistan.... Bread to live comes before Ghairat...
Guys, Their are eight other nations to play with. Try and get the English or the Australians to kick start the cricket by inviting them to Pakistan. First get the ball rolling and the rest will follow.
@Truth Detector:
Even i wonder why is this guy giving so much importance to India ?
I don't know why PCB and its chief Mr Zakaullah are hell bent upon to play with india. After all, ego is something and pcb should not stoop so low as to leave aside the national prestige ego. If india does not play with pakistan once we don't want to play with them ten times.
Why is Zaka Ashraf so much obsessed with playing with India. More he tries, more arrogant Indian are becoming as evident form comments here. They will come to senses in due course of time as shine will start coming off from 'Shinning India'... Wait and see.
@Adeel: reminds me same comment from these guys before world cup and asia cup. :D
No need to play with India. There are other 8 test teams with whom we can play good cricket.
India is affraid that after 2 white wash from England and Australia, they will face similar performance from Pakistan.
4 months ago same guy ws saying india is afraid of pak..even india defeatd pak n 2 ocasiön.(wc sf nd asia cup).now d same guy started licking bcci feet..dts d reasn v indians dnt like pakistani...their mind and heart dnt say same things..pakistanis are backstabbers..
@Dinesh: Taking up from Dinesh's comments, Zaka Ashraf has, apparently, failed to understand the dominating role public opinion plays in a democracy like India which, unlike Pakistan, has a strong public opinion which can easily articulate itself into a strong movement against any issue. The ruling Congress party politicians, even if they were keen to revive cricket relations with Pakistan, cannot ignore the public sentiments which are very, very negative (as with all the remaining cricketing nations) towards Pakistan. There is, of course, the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team which slammed the world's cricket doors for Pakistan, but in India's case, Pakistanis should understand that Indian -- as much as the remaining cricketing nations -- would not like to play cricket with a country that supports terrorism and does not check its proliferation. The strong anti-Pakistan sentiments in India would be mitigated, for a start, if Pakistan arrested terrorism masterminds such as Hafeez Syed. He is, chiefly, responsible for the killings of some 160 innocent and unarmed civilians, including children. Can you expect the world, least of all Indians, to sweep those savage killings under the carpet and play cricket as if nothing had happened? That's simply not cricket (pun intended!).
We don't want to play with you guys. Why are you so desperately behind us. Can't a country of 200 million support a cricket board?