Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq expressed his hope Tuesday that there could soon be a resumption of Test matches between his country and India, stalled after the terrorists attacks on Mumbai in 2008. “Of course, we’d like to play against India,” Misbah said. “It’s a very important series for both players and fans.” “It’s always good fun to play in these contests. The interest is high, I hope it happens because for all fans and players it is a good occasion.” Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf is due to meet Narayan Srinivasan, his counterpart in India’s Board of Control for Cricket in India, in Chennai early next month to discuss the possibility of a resumption of ties sooner than later. Both countries are slated to play in International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Programme but are hard pressed to find a slot because of India’s hectic schedule.
Misbah, speaking here ahead of Pakistan’s fifth and final one-day international against Sri Lanka on Wednesday with an unassailable 3-1 lead, said the current Pakistan team was more mature than the one which lost to India in the Cricket ODI World Cup semi-final in March. “That World Cup team wasn’t so different to this side, maybe one or two changes,” he said. “That also had teamwork and commitment in it.