Diplomatic talks to help Indo-Pak cricket revival: PCB

Lahore, Aug 19:

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has said that next week’s diplomatic talks between Pakistan and India will help in the revival of cricket ties between the two countries after a seven-year pause.

A delegation from Islamabad led by Sartaj Aziz, advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on foreign affairs and national security, will visit New Delhi to meet Indian officials on August 23 and 24.

Pakistan is awaiting the green light from New Delhi for a proposed cricket series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) starting in December 2015, the first between the South Asian rivals since 2007. The chairman said he hoped the talks would help.

“Sartaj Aziz is going and I had a meeting with him on Monday. If his visit brings down the political temperature then the chances of Pakistan-India cricket series will increase,” Khan was quoted as saying by nation.com.pk on Wednesday.

India halted bilateral sports with Pakistan in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. But last year both countries’ cricket boards signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which they were due to play six series’ between 2015-2023, conditional to the Indian government’s clearance.

“Indian board wants conducive political atmosphere for cricket but our view is that cricket and politics must be kept apart,” Khan said. (IANS)