Sports

Wasim Akram urges Modi to revive Indo-Pak cricket ties

Legendary paceman asks Modi to end India's cricketing boycott of Pakistan as it is hurting fans across the globe

Afp October 01, 2015

A file photo of Wasim Akram. PHOTO: EXPRESS

KARACHI: Legendary paceman Wasim Akram on Thursday urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end his country's cricketing boycott of Pakistan saying the ongoing impasse was hurting fans across the globe.

Pakistan is awaiting New Delhi's clearance for a full series, the first between the two countries since 2007, that was due to be played in United Arab Emirates starting December.

India called off most sporting fixtures between the rivals after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were planned by militants in Pakistan, though they did play a limited-overs series in 2012.

Read: Shahryar to meet BCCI officials on sidelines of ICC meeting next month

Recent cross-border tensions including firing across the disputed territory of Kashmir have put the tour in doubt, but Wasim, 49, said he was hopeful Modi would give it the green light.

"I request prime minister Modi to clear the tour," Wasim told AFP. "I heard that he told his cabinet that he doesn't have any problems in playing sports with Pakistan so cricket should flourish."

"What I have noticed is that PM Modi is striving to make India a superpower and they are cricketing superpower so they have a duty to look around the world and cooperate in others' progress so I am sure he will okay the series," he added.

Read: PCB will boycott BCCI if UAE series cancelled, says Shahryar

Wasim, considered the best left-arm pacer in history, said India versus Pakistan fixtures were a part of cricket's fabric and their loss was hurting the game.

"It's the loss for the cricketing world which has a small base. India-Pakistan is the ultimate contest and I grew up dreaming to feature in an India-Pakistan match."

He fondly recalled Pakistan's tour of India in 1999, where his team beat the hosts in two of their three Tests.

"We went to India under severe threats but what happened to us there is history," said Wasim, who was captain at the time. "We were accorded a warm welcome everywhere we went and the love and affection was unbelievable.

Read: If Pakistan boycotts India, ICC will deal with them: IPL chairman

"The same thing happened when India toured Pakistan in 2004 and even now when I tour India as a commentator people meet me with great affection and they ask me why are we not playing cricket.

"Billions enjoy Indo-Pak matches and its intensity outmatches every other rivalry as no team wants to lose and no fan wants to see his team lose, so I sincerely hope that everything is set aside and cricketing ties go on uninterrupted."

COMMENTS (13)

G.k. | 8 years ago | Reply With due respect to the legend , Yesterday Pakistani PM said that we are not going to talk on terror , trade etc, then how you except modi to play cricket W/o any movement by pakistan . Its contradicts your stance too "we will not beg for series." Then why Shahryar khan west to India again today. I will be disapointed if BCCI agrees to play cricket without any commitment on terror from pakistan.

Np | 8 years ago | Reply @samir: India has never mortgaged its independent foreign policy unlike Pakistan. So your post seeks to establish false equivalence. Also India is not arrogant and Is making every effort to resolve legitimate concerns of its neighbors whether Bangladesh, Bhutan or Nepal. It will not however yield to nuclear blackmail by Pakistan.

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Blunt | 8 years ago | Reply It's about time when keyboard soldiers and savers of India just lash out on the legend without analyzing the rationale of the statement. BTW when Pakistan has denied trade with India?

TiffinBox | 8 years ago | Reply Akram is a legend and India really like/love this guy but given the present situation I don't think that the cricketing god Tendulkar himself can convince Indians for a bilateral series.

samir | 8 years ago | Reply Indians have entered teenage where they believe the world is theirs. Pakistan entered that age a couple of decades ago. In both cases, opportunity for stage/camera/action was provided by West.. either to Mujahideen by Ronald Reagan, to Musharraf by Bush, to Modi by Obama... all to make some objectives achieved. Modi is not a superman nor India is a superpower; they are living in an era where West needs them against China. Therefore, it is best for them to think long term and be mature. Otherwise, they will be royally screwed once China scales to the top in a decade or so. With Russian strikes in Syria, the re-alignment has begun... wondering if India will choose the losing side again.

Aafaq | 8 years ago | Reply Wasim bhai u r right but we should not ask them again and again and I think it's enough now.If they don't want to play then be it, forget it. What goes around comes around.

Sumit | 8 years ago | Reply How about solving Kashmir issue first? if trade can be put on hold for Kashmir, then why not cricket?

NS | 8 years ago | Reply I guess the legend got the response expected, and should divert his energies to something like his leader IK. More may be gained by him that way.

Rohit | 8 years ago | Reply Why you are talking to Modi govt? Please talk to hurriyat ...

Vicky | 8 years ago | Reply What about Kashmir issue?

Amandeep singh virk | 8 years ago | Reply Dear wasim bhai, we have no problem....but when you mix trade(mfn) with politics, then how can you blame us for mixing cricket with politics? it's your stance that no talk, no trade with India without Kashmir issue, then why don't you add cricket in this list also ....

Begistan | 8 years ago | Reply I must say I've never seen such desperation before. Shaharyar, Zaheer Abbass, Miandad, Waqar, Afridi, Akram and counting. So much for a few million dollars.

Prada | 8 years ago | Reply Dear Mr.Akram, I respect you greatly as a cricketer. You were one of the greatest ever. But, as a patriotic Indian, I would be disappointed if India plays a bilateral series against Pak.

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