International cricket should resume: Kirmani
Former India player says Pakistan should not be deprived of action.
KARACHI:
Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani has stressed the need for the return of international cricket to Pakistan, saying passionate fans should not be deprived of the high-profile action on their soil.
The former cricketer, who is on a personal trip to Karachi, was speaking to reporters at the Karachi Press Club in a media talk arranged by the Sports Journalists Association of Sindh (SJAS).
“It’s nice to be here after 20 years,” said Kirmani who represented India from 1976 to 1986 and was a part of their 1983 World Cup winning side.
“It was memorable to visit the National Stadium where I first played back in 1979. I met some former Pakistan players there, including Zaheer Abbas and Wasim Bari.
“The entire subcontinent is passionate about its cricket and no part should be deprived of it. I really want to see international cricket making a return to Pakistan.”
PCB, BCCI should start new chapter
Meanwhile, the former cricketer said that while he wanted the revival of Pakistan-India bilateral series, it was not in his domain to speak on the policies of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown desperation over the revival of the series, BCCI’s continuous reluctance prompted the board’s chairman Zaka Ashraf to say that India was afraid of playing against Pakistan.
However, Kirmani expressed discontent at the comments.
“Such comments should be avoided. It’s time that both boards sit down together to start a new beginning.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2012.
Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani has stressed the need for the return of international cricket to Pakistan, saying passionate fans should not be deprived of the high-profile action on their soil.
The former cricketer, who is on a personal trip to Karachi, was speaking to reporters at the Karachi Press Club in a media talk arranged by the Sports Journalists Association of Sindh (SJAS).
“It’s nice to be here after 20 years,” said Kirmani who represented India from 1976 to 1986 and was a part of their 1983 World Cup winning side.
“It was memorable to visit the National Stadium where I first played back in 1979. I met some former Pakistan players there, including Zaheer Abbas and Wasim Bari.
“The entire subcontinent is passionate about its cricket and no part should be deprived of it. I really want to see international cricket making a return to Pakistan.”
PCB, BCCI should start new chapter
Meanwhile, the former cricketer said that while he wanted the revival of Pakistan-India bilateral series, it was not in his domain to speak on the policies of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown desperation over the revival of the series, BCCI’s continuous reluctance prompted the board’s chairman Zaka Ashraf to say that India was afraid of playing against Pakistan.
However, Kirmani expressed discontent at the comments.
“Such comments should be avoided. It’s time that both boards sit down together to start a new beginning.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2012.