Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf said he has wished the 86-year-old founder of the hardline Hindu Shiv Sena party, who is in a critical condition in a Mumbai hospital, a speedy recovery.
"I have sent a message of get well soon to Mr Bal Thackeray," Ashraf told AFP.
"Our religion and our Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) taught us that we should wish everyone good health and life and following that I have wished him well and sent him a bouquet."
Thackeray vociferously opposed the limited overs series which starts next month between India and Pakistan, saying New Delhi should not revive cricketing ties until Pakistan has brought the perpetrators of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to justice.
The attacks, which saw 166 people killed, forced New Delhi to freeze all sporting ties with Pakistan.
However, the Indian government earlier this month cleared a tour of two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals by a Pakistan team in December-January – the first between the arch-rivals in five years.
Ashraf said leaders like Thackeray must help improve relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
"I hope that Mr Thackeray gets well soon and plays his part in bringing the two nations together by supporting both the teams during this series," said Ashraf.
Pakistan are due to fly to New Delhi on December 22. They play the first Twenty20 in Bangalore on December 25. The second Twenty20 will be played in Ahmedabad two days later, followed by one-day internationals in Chennai (December 30), Kolkata (Jan 3) and Delhi (January 6).
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Assalam-o-Alikum; Look! Pakistan and India both are different country.I really Don
t understand why pakistani and indian are fight each other with abuse words,For Pakistan,India is as a country of the world as others country,As a muslim and Pakistani I think that India and pakistan cant be friends,until the KASHMER problem is solve,But as a countries or part of the world,Trade,sports, must be done normally.Aik tarf india pakistan se trade krna shorw krta hai Aur phir usi saman mein jasosi aalat nasb krta.Plz double game mat khila krein.Zaka wished him well and Balaseaheb passed away.
@Great Thinker: Your name and comments just don't work
Af-Pak
No, dear friend. You don't have big hearts. If Mr Zaka's behavior is anything to go by, then you have exceptionally small minds and ever smaller hearts. The consequences of that small mind and smaller hearts are there for all to see.
Indians coming to Pakistani sites and commenting on everything Pakistani is the real proof of their inferiority complex and strange obsession with all things Pakistani. But we don't mind, because we have big hearts.
@abc Indians know pakistani mentality of pouring salt on othes wound. This nothing new to India or world.No one in the world takes paksitan seriously anyways ...
Well said Mr. Ashraf, another example of the big hearts of Pakistanis.
This is in extremely poor taste. Such superciliousness from a person of Mr Zaka's standing is deeply regrettable.
Zaka, behave yourself, stop politricking and do your homework.
hahah..............zaka trying to gain sympathy...that wont help.......ur double game wont work.....the fact is most of the pakis hate india and we too hate pakis.....pakis if u wanna come to india...make sure u get a sponsor...c the match....nd simply get lost...dont try to show fake love towards us.......
Indians must be so distressed to read this news :P Nitish is a prime example.
@Fozan: Agree with you 100% that Islam preaches that, but a religions is as good as its followers. You would never in you life hear such as statement from a bearded mullah who are the torch bearers of Islam.
Gandhi being devout Hindu appreciated what he felt were good teachings of Islam only shows the love have had for humanity.
Mr.Zaka is so desperate to send Paki team to India that he can eat grass , just like a PM had told for Atom bombs. Pakistan is now a no-go place for crickets , which leads to financial trouble for cricket board and moral-loss for paki cricketers. So , this statement is nothing , he can compromise many more.
@Zain M: Well said Zain. Rather than standing up to your interest we tend to always suck up to someone! Only responsibilty we have about others interms of international relations is to be ethical in our conduct. There are no friendships in international relations only interests and ethics should drive your conduct and decisions. It appears that our Pakistani leaders don't understand this, they either are foolishly friendly or back stabbers.
@Nitish The destiny of racism, hatred and fighting is evaporation, end and loss. The downfall of Shiv Sena will be sooner if it continues to spread racism and hatred.
Mr. Zaka tell these teachings to the fanatics in our country. It seems like we have too many of those.
@Nitish
True face of indian hinduvata
Very cheap from pcb, someone is I'll and he is playing cheap politic out of it.... Shame on you...chee.
@Nitish: Poor indian a slap on your face isnt it?
Well said Fozan I deeply admire your thoughts. And I believe people like you are the pillars of the bridge of love between India and Pakstan. This is what we need Respect for each others Religion, Integrity and leaders. Lets pray for brotherhood of India and Pakistan. Inshallah we will make this happen together. Amen, Jay shree Ram.
While Zaka is banning his own players from playing in overseas leagues, he is indulging in supercilious political fakery with India's opposition leader. Clearly a sign of an overextended ego. He's clearly out of his own league here.
@ Fozan:
your knowledge of Islam and prophet Muhammad is zero. Prophet Muhammad mission was to eliminate idol worshipers from earth and not to appease them. Don't go for what Gandhi said, he was a politician and a smart one.
@Nitish: No one is extending friendship hand, we are coming for our benefit, raise money from INDIAN sponsors!!!
@Nitish: thanks for making that clear now phutto from here (a PAKISTANI website).
@Nitish: U simple disgust me! It's morons like you that have kept these two nations apart!
Zaka saheb is neither a politician nor a preacher, he should stick to his job of promoting cricket in Pakistan. He seems to be sucking up to a self confessed Pakistan hater. As a Pakistan I feel offended by Zaka saheb.
Well done zaka!! You're a true pakistani and wish the best for both countries..as for the Indians above who are still criticizing pakistanis, I am speechless. No matter how hard we try for peace between pak-India, you ppl will always be unhappy. What is wrong with a pakistani wishing an Indian politician well?
@Procrastinator: This is exactly what Islam teaches, the love for humanity.Gandhi was inspired by Prophet Muhammad PBUH and Hazrat Umar (R.A) himself. He quotes “I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind.... I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life.”
We truly respect the leaders of subcontinent like Jinnah and Gandhi. Enough love for the other side of the border (India).
Respect,
Pakistan
Zaka saheb should stick to his job. Of improving and promoting cricket in Pakistan. He is neither a politician nor a preacher. He gives a perception of Pakistan sucking up to a Muslim hater.
yeah zaka sahib, now you only need to kiss his a... what o joke he is. licking for come to india to play cricket, this is called beghairati.
@Nitish: Please write MY VIEWS instead of OUR VIEWS.
@Nitish: Please write "My VIEWS" instead of "OUR VIEWS".
@Nitish: idiot!
@Nitish.....how contemptuous my friend.....with my years of interaction with Indian people around the world, I have found that many of the Indians are thoroughly nice people, however, some have very biased views about Pakistan. I suppose you are among those minority of Indians.
islam is the religion of peace 2 or 3 violent inciddents cant blacken the whole religion
Looks like Nitish also belongs to Hindu Shiv Sena party, he must be now burning an effigy of Zaka Ashraf outside Dehli cricket stadium.
Dear Sir
pl google 911.
Tribune should be banned for racist indians!!
Admin... I want to see my comment posted here.... Natish hatred comment is also posted!! so dont block mine!
Unwise remarks. What is this obsession with speaking on behalf of the 'ummah'? we would be happy if you just did your job. Thanks.
No need to give such gestures to these idiots.
Well done Mr. Ashraf!!
Gandhigiri never fails. "You can get rid of hate with love, respect and generosity only. Hating a hater will only increase the hate he has."
Respect for this gesture.
What a gesture....I am impressed. Zaka sahab you should be the prime minister of Pakistan.
Zaka Ashraf is making so much sense. He is a million times better than Ijaz butt.
And one more thing these sympathetic words r not going to change anything about our views on pakistan... Pakistan was and is a enemy nation .....have i made myself clear to you zaka.
We all know what your religion teches....Now zaka get to work and focus on upcoming cricket series rather indulge yourself in politics..