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Modi wants to use 'cricket diplomacy' to improve ties with Pakistan

Announcement comes a day after members of BJP opposed the resumption of cricket relations between two countries

Web Desk May 12, 2015

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that a decision has been taken to start a Pak-India cricket series to improve relation. PHOTO: AFP

In a rare move on Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to resort to ‘cricket diplomacy’ to improve bilateral relations with Pakistan, IndiaToday reported.

According to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPA, Modi announced during a parliamentary meeting that a decision had been taken to start a Pakistan-India cricket series to improve relations.

Taking notice of the apprehensions expressed by some BJP members regarding the revival of cricketing relations between the two neighbours, Modi said he was "clearing the air".

BJP MNA and former union home secretary RK Singh had said on Monday that the proposed India-Pakistan cricket series, planned for December in the UAE, should not happen.

Read: Indian parliamentarian opposes Pakistan-India series in December

Earlier on Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan said that they wanted to resume cricketing ties with India after waiting for eight long years, with a three-Test, five-ODI and two-Twenty20 matches tour.

The tour is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two boards last year to play five cricketing series in the next eight years.

“We want to resume India-Pakistan series in the UAE,” Khan had told reporters after a meeting with Indian cricket chief Jagmohan Dalmiya in Kolkata on Sunday.

COMMENTS (16)

Puppet | 9 years ago | Reply @Ashish Singh Yadav: why don't you ask all these questions from your Modi instead of commenting in ET.

Human | 9 years ago | Reply @Ashish Singh Yadav: Absolute non-sense .......do u hav any sort of evidense of Pakistani involvement?

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Ayesha | 9 years ago | Reply @Ashish Singh Yadav: Because of the people like you only India is still is one of the lowest ranked country in tolerance.

Asad | 9 years ago | Reply @Ashish Singh Yadav: Mumbai was an inside job!

Taimoor | 9 years ago | Reply RAW's involvement in supporting terrorism in Pakistan, especially after APS Peshawar, whose militants were trained by RAW, its time to cool down the western neighbors so that access to Afghan & Central Asian Market through Wagah border can materialize. Also to "request" Pakistan so that Afghan Taliban would keep their "hands off" from the probable trade route from Chahbahar in Iran linking Central Asia passing through Taliban strong holds in Afghanistan.

Aschraful Makhlooq PK | 9 years ago | Reply Mr. Modi keep it in your mind that Pakistan-India strong,stable,permanent and long-term relations can only be normalized only and only on the basis of resolving the most burning,core and long-awaited Kashmir's issue on the top most priority basis instead of "cricket diplomacy".....

Liberal | 9 years ago | Reply Why use cricket? Why not send foreign secretary to resume talks with Pakistan?

Pity | 9 years ago | Reply Did he take permission from the Indian Parliament?

Blunt | 9 years ago | Reply Woow I mean simply woow. On one hand they are trying to use cricket diplomacy, while on the other they are raising objections over the Chinese investment in Pakistan. Dual face...

MKS | 9 years ago | Reply What do you mean by "Cricket Diplomacy". Cricket is cricket not politics. This is India's problem that they play their dirty politics in everything whether it is sports, arts or anything.

Indian Guy | 9 years ago | Reply While the current govt has done reasonably good job with the economy and has also done great in terms of foreign policy especially towards neighboring countries, I'll have to say its policy towards our important western neighbor Pakistan has not been good. Its non-engagement with Pakistan has been the sole sore point in an otherwise good foreign policy. Hope the govt reengages with Pakistan so that the whole sub-continent can progress hand in hand. Now that the border problems with Bangladesh has been finally resolved, doing the same with Pakistan could mean that the road transit agreement and visa agreements can be finally signed in the next SAARC summit in Pakistan. Lets hope for the best. Hope this cricket diplomacy leads somewhere.

Ashish Singh Yadav | 9 years ago | Reply If your country cricket is dying then why we save? Did modi forgot What is 26/11, 1993, 2001... Pakistan is synonyms of terrorism. Pakistan is now become beggar no self respect has. Modi will paid heavy price if he allow cricket series.

Zahid | 9 years ago | Reply We sincerely welcome this cricket diplomacy and thanks PM Modi

Pukar | 9 years ago | Reply Oh really, he wants to improve ties? There must be a catch somewhere.

usman777 | 9 years ago | Reply i love how moody we make modi.

Zaheer | 9 years ago | Reply Narendra Moodi's decision in favor of cricket diplomacy with Pakistan is highly appreciable and would help to bridge the relations between two neighbouring countries. This decision will obviously decrease the heated temperature of the two nuclear states. All in all the credit also goes to the PCB Chairman, Shaheryar Khan whose utmost efforts to bring cricket back in Pakistan specially with India hopefully materialized. It is the time for both the countries to think for the betterment of their people as with friendly environment both neighbouring states can jointly work in education, science, health and import, export of many commodities and for the development & prosperity. Each and every dispute can be amicably resolve through dialogues. Keeping in mind the people of both sides are keenly eyeing for the friendly relationship with each other this will also be good for the entire region. And the last but not least when the ice is melting India and Pakistan should develop trust and cooperate with each other for the benefit of their people.

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