Pak-India revival talks on the cards

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt will push for the revival of bilateral ties with India when he meets his Indian counterparts on the sidelines of the on-going Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Butt, who is also the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President leaves for Sri Lanka this morning to attend the discussions where he is expected to meet officials of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The chairman will also attend the selection committee meeting that will select the squad for the tour of England.

“I’ll be speaking to the BCCI officials to convince them to revive Pakistan-India cricket series,” Butt told The Express Tribune. “Cricketing ties between the two countries are very important for the game and it would be my priority during my tour to Sri Lanka to discuss the issue.”

Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral series since 2007 due to strained relations between the two nations following the Mumbai attacks and the PCB chairman feels it is not only a loss for both countries but the game as well.

“This rivalry has always been a treat for cricket fans all over the world and it must be revived.”

He added that he will also ask the BCCI officials to include Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20 champions, Sialkot Stallions, in next year’s Champions League (CL). The organisers snubbed the Stallions when they did not include the side for this year’s event after confusion had prevailed due to Butt’s statement in the wake of the IPL snub to Pakistan players.

“Sialkot Stallions deserve to play in the tournament of champions and I will ask the BCCI to include the side in the competition.”

Published in the Express Tribune, June 18^th,2010.