Azhar Ali: Playing against India is a dream

The captain and other PCB members remain in favour of resuming bilateral cricket ties with the neighbours

Pakistan One-day International captain, Azhar Ali shares the desire of former skipper, Misbahul Haq, to see bilateral cricketing ties resume between Pakistan and India reported Press Trust of India. 

Indian cricket officials have said that in light of the recent Gurdaspur attacks, the chances of a bilateral series are non-existent. Despite this gloomy picture, the captain said that it was every players dream to play against India.

"It would be good for cricket if Pakistan and India play. We want to play because doing well against India is always special," said Azhar.

However, he was aware of the fact the decision to revive cricketing ties remained with the two countries and not the players.

"It is in the hands of the cricket authorities and governments. If we can have a series with India it would be great," said the 30 year-old.

The cricket community of Pakistan have been in favour of a cricketing series with India and their sentiments remain unchanged despite the brewing tensions at the government level after the Gurdaspur incident.

"It is difficult to say at the moment whether we can have a series against India in December. Everything will now depend on what happens in the next few days after this Gurdaspur incident," the former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi, said.

"We have to wait and see whether sections of the Indian media or government start blaming Pakistan for this incident. But as far as cricket ties are concerned, decisions are made at last moment," he added.

Another former PCB Chairman Khalid Mehmood lamented the fact that cricketing ties between the two nations had always been influenced by politics.

"What is noteworthy is that whenever India has to host us they manage to do it regardless of the situation between the two countries. The problems arise whenever it is time for Pakistan to host a series against them," Mehmood noted.

Former wicket-keeper and captain Rashid Latif shared the views of other former and current PCB members and said that he was a firm believer of keeping sports and politics separate. However, sadly the two always got muddled together in reality.

"Many of us would like to see sports and politics being kept apart but in the real world this doesn't happen or the Western bloc would not have boycotted the Moscow Olympics nor would England or Australia refuse to tour Zimbabwe in the past years," said the former wicket-keeper.