NEW DELHI, 5 May 2003 — Bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan are unlikely to be resumed this year despite “positive signals” from the Indian government, reports said yesterday.
“Dates seem to be a problem now both for the Asia Cup as well as the revival of bilateral cricketing relations,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Jagmohan Dalmiya said.
Dalmiya met Saturday his Pakistani counterpart Tauqir Zia at an Asian Cricket Foundation meeting in Dubai to resolve the impasse arising out of the Indian government’s refusal to sanction bilateral matches with its neighbor.
“It was a beginning, what with our government also indicating that they are keen to resume bilateral sporting ties. However, we were in no position to commit anything,” Dalmiya told the Times of India newspaper.
Pakistan Captain Calls for
Resumed Tests With India
Pakistan captain Rashid Latif called yesterday for an early resumption of Tests between Pakistan and India.
Latif, 34, told a news conference that the players were keen to start playing against each other once again in their own countries. “I just think somebody has to take the initiative and if Pakistan needs to go and play in India or at a neutral venue to break the ice we should do it,” Latif said.
Pakistan Sports Leaders Urge Wicket Diplomacy During a Vajpayee Visit
Hailing Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali’s peace efforts yesterday, Pakistan’s leading sportsmen said they wanted Indian Premier Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to bring his country’s cricket team with him during any visit to Pakistan.
“Of course, it would be icing on the cake if, whenever, the Indian Premier visits Pakistan he is accompanied by the Indian cricket team,” said Ramiz Raja, former Pakistan cricket captain and director of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“Sports can be a major tool and a regular cricket series can help in normalization of relations,” Raja said.
“We have a sports-loving prime minister and president and both know the importance sports can play in the normalization of relations between India and Pakistan,” said former hockey captain Islahuddin Siddiqui.
Reckoned as hockey giants, Pakistan and India played annual hockey series until 1999.
“I, as a sportsman, am ready to play my part because I feel sports close the gap and generate a sense of friendship between people and tensions have been released through sports in the past,” he said.
Squash giant Jahangir Khan said both countries will come closer with more and more sporting exchanges.
