Cricketing ties were amongst the many issues discussed between Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani and his Indian counterpart Ranjan Mathai during their two-day talks.
Expressing the hope that the equation would continue with the “positive trajectory”, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jilani said that he had put forward some suggestions on the issue.
Addressing a joint press conference, Mathai said there were issues of security. As for resumption of cricketing ties, it is for the BCCI and the cricketing body in Pakistan to decide, Mathai said.
The joint statement, he said, emphasised the need to promote sports and media ties.
Jilani also said that things are moving forward in the right direction on the issue. “I had discussion for the revival of cricket ties between the two countries. I think that we will continue with this formative trajectory that we have adopted over the years in moving forward in our relationship,” Jilani said.
The Indo-Pak bilateral cricket ties have snapped after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks even though the two teams have come face to face in multi-team events such as the World Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board is pushing hard for the resumption of ties but the BCCI is playing hardball citing the busy international schedule. A desperate Pakistan has even offered to host the Indians on neutral turf given the perils of touring the strife-torn nation which is facing considerable revenue loss due to international teams’ refusal to play there. No international team has played in Pakistan after the 2009 Lahore terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team during some of the visiting players were injured in firing by terrorists.
