Lorgat hopes semi-final builds Indo-Pak bridge

ICC chief executive hopes high-profile World Cup semi-final will build a bridge between the two nations.

COLOMBO: ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Monday hoped the high-profile World Cup semi-final between rivals Pakistan and India will build a bridge between the two nations.

"Cricket is there to build bridges," said Lorgat. "If it does than it would be a just reward for the beautiful game of cricket."

Lorgat said India playing in Pakistan would be massive, irrespective of whether it overshadows the World Cup.

"Certain countries, when they play, it's romanticism, it's massive and wherever they play it's big, so we like to see cricket providing that platform to India and Pakistan.

"As someone said 'cricket diplomacy is better than no diplomacy'."

Cricket diplomacy was first used by former Pakistan President General Zia-ul Haq who toured India mid-way through a Test series in 1987.

General Pervez Musharraf also used cricket diplomacy when he toured India to watch a match in 2005, holding talks on the sidelines of the match.