Cricket: Restoring ties with India top priority says Rameez Raja
Amidst increasing calls for the revival of bilateral cricket between the two countries, former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja has put his weight behind the issue and said restoring ties with India should be a ‘top priority’.
Since taking over the post as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Zaka Ashraf has stressed on having good relations with all the boards besides restoring bilateral ties with India and bringing back international cricket to the country.
Raja felt that the revival of bilateral series, which were brought to a halt in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in 2008, was among the most important assignments for Ashraf. “I think Ashraf has made just the right start,” said Raja. “This series benefits both countries and benefits cricket overall.
“There is no bigger series than India-Pakistan and they should anoint it as an ‘icon’ series, as Test cricket is already getting ‘knockout punches’ from the limited-overs formats,” said the cricketer-turned-commentator.
The former opening batsman added that Pakistan cricket faced a few issues that needed attention. “Our cricket has got a few very important priorities which need to be looked at. Reviving international cricket, improving our standings and paying attention to the domestic cricket structure are a few issues.
“In addtion, we have to name our coaching unit. So these are his main priorities, and of course the most important one is to play India [in a bilateral series].’’
Raja added that he had also done his bit to encourage all-rounder Shahid Afridi who roared back into international cricket with a bang after his match-winning performances against Sri Lanka. Afridi announced a ‘conditional retirement’ over his differences with the PCB setup but reversed his decision after Ashraf’s appointment.
“Afridi is a perfect advertisement for Pakistan cricket, because that is how we should be perceived as a cricket nation: aggressive, but not unpredictable, and with flair. Afridi is a headline-grabber with his performances and talent,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2011.
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@JCD:
India has the accession agreement, Pakistan doesn't. So, that makes it ours.
@bruteforce: The Republic of India never existed before 1947 either so you can't call kashmir an integral part of the "Republic of India", using your logic.
@FawadTex: Blind but still making billions of $.what about PCB- PATHETIC CRICKET COUNCIL
@Pinto: BCCI is Blind Cricket Council India:)
I don't think BCCI wants restoration of INDO-PAK cricket bcoz it will affect the scheduling of IPL which is generating lot of money
pakistan should get on the top of icc rankings.i assure that bcci and indian cricket will find time to play cricket with pakistan.will then automatically find a top spot in indian priorities.presently india is a bit proud.
@Abdul: But Kashmir is an integral part of Pakistan.
Since when?? Pakistan has only been around for 60 odd years, where as Kashmir has been around for thousands of years and before creation of Islam !!!! So this is not something that can be classed as inherently linked with Pakistan !!!
RR is gentleman cricketer from Pakistan. He has a point, but he is pitted against plethora of subcontinental issues. Add to that the priorities of BCCI, which is wooed by every cricket playing nation are different and Pakistan is nowhere on its radar, inspite of Indo Pak match hype. Pakistanis are starved of quality international cricket matches, where as lately Indian crowd is undergoing some kind of cricket fatigue. Cricket has become another bollywood spectacle for Indians, and they expect same kind of fun and entertainment from the cricket matches. Hence, any negative vibe Pakistanis would intend to bring will only make them uninterested in the whole bargain.
m very sad after reading the news of yuvi Lung cancer.its a very bad news for the cricket.
@Abdul: Dear friend before taking back Kashmir first try to keep Pakistan in one piece before it is too late. Already Baloochistan & Fata are too hot to keep with you & Uncle Sam is hell bound in keeping havoc with attacks in your boarder check posts
@ Brute Force.
All muslims around the world are our brothers. But Kashmir is an integral part of Pakistan. We have taken half of it back and we will take the rest as well. Your narrowmindedness amazes me. Over 100 000 killings and you think its not enough to talk abt.
@Has:
Whoa! Great sentiment. But, why doesn't any in Pakistan protest the killing of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang by the Chinese? Why only protest against India's "crimes"?
Is it because money? Aid? Free Military hardware?
Is cricket more important 100000 Kashmiris killed, 20,000 women raped by Indian security forces in Kashmir. Indian authority kept Pakistani players out of IPL. Yes we should play in India and all Pakistani players should wear black band for protest what India has done in Only Muslim state which was occupied by Indian army... dignity is better than cricket Mr Rameez Raja.
yeah there is no bigger series than Pakistan India series. Pakistani players should wear black bands during the matches protesting killing 100000 Kashmiris , displacing 2 milion of them and 20,000 women raped. As well they dnt want our players in IPL...cricket is not better than our dignity.
i am sure it is, however India has too many other priorities to get normalisation of relations with Pakistan and playing Cricket is certainly not at top of that list !! Rest assure to that fact !