Pakistan Cricket Board Managing Director Wasim Khan is optimistic that there could be progress in the coming months towards resumption of full bilateral cricket ties between Pakistan and India which remain suspended since 2007.
Talking to local media in Lahore on Monday on completion ofsix months in the PCB, Wasim said relations between the Pakistan and Indiancricket boards have been very good.
“Unfortunately bilateral cricket ties between the twocountries is governed and influenced by political and diplomatic ties. But weare hopeful that things are moving in the right direction now,” Wasimsaid.
“I think we will see ice melt in coming months andprogress being made now. It is important for both countries to have regularbilateral cricket ties,” he said.
Wasim said indications of this had come when the ICCPresident Shashank Manohar supported the appointment of PCB Chairman Ehsan Manito head the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee.
“Another indicator came at the last Asian CricketCouncil meeting when India delegates supported giving hosting rights toPakistan for next year’s Asia Cup T20 event,” he added.
Wasim said the Indian Board had also asked its governmentfor clearance to host the Pakistan women’s team in October for the ICC Women’sCricket Championship matches.
Pakistan and India are not scheduled to play in the ICCWorld Test Championship. Bilateral cricket ties have been suspended since 2007although Pakistan did tour India for a short limited over series.
The two teams, however, meet in ICC and Asian CricketCouncil events.A major indicator of ice melting in sportingrelations between Pakistan and India has also come on the tennis court when theIndian Tennis Federation confirmed it would be sending its squad to Islamabadfor the Davis Cup tie next month. This will be the first time both countrieswill meet on a tennis court after 13 years.