Imran hails India-Pakistan cricket revival
India on Monday invited Pakistan for a short limited overs series in December-January, the first bilateral encounter between the neighbours in five years.
India stalled cricketing ties with Pakistan in the wake of terror attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, which were blamed on militants based across the border.
"I welcome India's decision to revive cricket with Pakistan," Khan told reporters. "Anything which can bring both the countries to negotiations and normalcy is very good and we must appreciate that."
The thaw came after President Asif Ali Zardari asked Indian premier Manmohan Singh to restore cricketing ties during a lunch meeting in New Delhi in April this year.
India also invited Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 champions Sialkot Stallions for the Champions League to be held in South Africa this year.
Khan, who captained Pakistan to World Cup glory in 1992, said India and Pakistan playing each other was a boost for world cricket.
"The prospect of India and Pakistan playing against each other is a good news for international cricket because these matches are followed by millions across the world," said Khan.
Khan said the high tension in an India-Pakistan match made it special cricket.
"The Indo-Pak matches are special because of the high tension and whoever deals with that extreme pressure comes out winner," said Khan.
The two sides met in the World Cup semi-final in the Indian city of Mohali in April last year, with India running out winners by 29 runs.
"That semi-final in Mohali is a good example of the tension and the excitement. India committed a lot of mistakes in that match but they won because Pakistan did more mistakes in comparison and that's why they lost," said Khan.
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@GreenOval: No game is more important than justice. One can't play games while the other country plays "games" with lives of fellow citizens
Inviting any Pakistan representative/ambassador for any such reason except to bring the 26/11 perpetrators and their masters sitting in that country will ring the death knell of the already miserable ruling coalition of India. They have no, i repeat absolutely none reason to feel they or the country will benefit in the short or long term with this brainless idea to open doors after having shut them for a reason.
Whatever happened to that reason! We can say with reasonable surety therefore that it will NOT happen.
Personally being a Indian i do NOT want relations with that state. And i am the majority, yes India is a functioning democracy :-)
@Tony Singh: Read what you and your troll friends have to say about Pakistan and Pakistanis, you will find your answer about that small narrow minded minority.
@Someone: "Well, keep thinking it as your internal matter, while the rest of the world sees it as an international matter. Who’s asked for your opinion?? We know from your prospective, rest of the world starts and end with, well Pakistan/ Nobody asked for your opinion too. This is age of the net. If you can't live with it, leave/ Read WTO documents and yes then you will find your foot in your mouth
@Tony Singh: Well, keep thinking it as your internal matter, while the rest of the world sees it as an international matter. Who's asked for your opinion?
"And if u do not confer MFN to India u will be shunted out of WTO" - my foot if that happens. Go check the definition of rhetoric before stacking up more.
@Someone: The Kashmir issue is our internal matter. You consider it disputed, we do not, And if u do not confer MFN to India u will be shunted out of WTO.One has to confer MFN status to every other country to be in WTO Hope you know that. ICC will not shunt India out if does not play with Pakistan
@Tony Singh: How does protesting against giving India MFN status despite severe human rights abuses in Kashmir make us narrow minded?
No double standards please.
@GreenOval: How does asking for justice for killing of 160 of our fellow Indians make us narrow minded?
The time is not far when Shiv Sena will be the ruling government of India and we will be dealing with them. 99% of Indians have a 'Shiv Sena' in them, just waiting to burst out.
@Shamnaam: Thats what I meant in my earlier post when I mentioned a minority of narrow minded Indian trolls. Where is your shame and self respect when you self invite yourself at a Pakistani web site and promote hatterd and make one dimensional primitive comments.. What makes you think that you are welcomed here. If you must vent, then take your baggage to some Indian web site.
As far as Imran Khan is concerned, he does not need a character certificate from some no body, let the Pakistanis worry about him, and you go and mind your own little business.
@antanu g: All i am saying is since they are resuming cricketing ties, then why not start with pinnacle form of cricket, there is not harm is playing test cricket, I know it may not be commercially feasible. But playing 2 test series is not that long isn't it!!!
@antanu g:
Not just right-wing parties of India but 95-97% of Indians do NOT want to see Pakis on their soil. You have to just read the sites of Indian newspapers and you will get the picture. There are not just a few commentators but over one thousand responding to the prospect of a cricket series with Pakistan. You are NOT welcomed to India, that's the clear message.
As far as Imran Khan is concerned, the man is more of a manipulator than a serious leader. He has surrounded himself with sycophants, disgraced politicians of other parties, mullahs, etc. You cannot lead a country when you have such a gallery of criminals surrounding you. Imran Khan is going to lose his credibility very soon if he becomes the leader. Also, Indians are sick and tired of this man's double-forked tongue, pretending to be holier-than-thou and, at the same time, having enjoyed -- in excess, I might say -- all the perks of a Western liberal society that was tolerant enough to admit him.
The message to all Paki enthusiasts: YOUR CRICKETERS ARE NOT WELCOMED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, LEAST OF ALL IN INDIA. DO YOU STILL HAVE NO SHAME OR SELF RESPECT TO IMPOSE YOURSELF AS A GUEST IN A COUNTRY WHICH DESPISES YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR LIES, DECEPTION AND DENIALS?
@Alif: We may not like what Gavasker has to say about this tour, but that does not change his status as a legend and perhaps one of the best opening batsman of modern time. He may have irked some of his Pakistani followers but nothing can take away what he has achieved on the cricket field.
Let's not act like some of the narrow minded Indian trolls and make senseless comments.
@Alif: Sunil Gavasker is a cricketing legend,doesn't change a thing if you don't think him so.
@abdullah diwana: Sunil Gavaskar is not a legend for us, There is one and only legend The Great IMRAN KHAN.
@sensible: you are wrong dear....let us start gradually with this mini-series. Hasty decisions may backfire. Even Indian right wing parties are opposing this series.
yea he is right .... sports n entertainment should not be engage in politics and hate among nations.
And Sunil Gavaskar opposes this. Two Cricket legends on opposite sides.
Immi you are right! but i think they should play 2 or 3 test series instead of ODI coz this will give real boost to test cricket and will increase viewership which is declining ( thanks to T20s), long live TEST CRICKET!!!