PCB chief invited to IPL final
May 22, 2012
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Zaka Ashraf, has said he has accepted an invitation to attend the Indian Premier League (IPL) final on Sunday and would use to visit to discuss reviving cricketing ties between the rivals.
Ashraf’s invitation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) comes more than three years after ties were suspended.
“It is a positive step forward in further normalising bilateral cricket ties between the two countries,” Ashraf said.
The invitation will allow me to undertake a two-day visit to India and I plan to use this visit to have informal discussions with the BCCI officials regarding chances of restoring bilateral cricket ties.”
Ties were suspended following the 2008 attacks on Mumbai that left 166 people dead and were blamed on Pakistani militants.
The BCCI recently approved a Pakistani team featuring in this year’s Champions League.
Pakistan President, Asif Ali Zardari, met Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and stated the need for a restoration of cricketing ties.
India and Pakistan are due to play this year in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tour Programme but India’s busy schedule is the most significant obstacle.
“We are positive about it as we want to play India regularly in bilateral matches and we are willing to talk to them at every level to achieve this,” he said.
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