Abbas wants stadium on India-Pakistan border
Batting legend Zaheer Abbas said Tuesday that a new stadium should be
built straddling the India-Pakistan border as a way of reviving cricket
relations between the arch rivals.
Pakistan last month played their first cricket match in India - the
World Cup semi-final - since the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai
that left 166 people dead and which New Delhi blamed on extremists
across the border.
The deadly incident badly strained relations between the two
countries and also stalled sporting ties.
But since the semi-final there have been suggestions that a
resumption of cricket and other sports between the two countries could
be on the cards.
Abbas, a Pakistani who - unusually - is also hugely popular in India
for his batting exploits which fetched him the title of "the Asian
Bradman", suggested a shared stadium could play a vital role in
improving relations.
"Build a stadium at Wagah border so that there are no problems of
India not coming to Pakistan, and Pakistan not going to India," Abbas, a
former Pakistan captain, told AFP.
"Half of the portion should be in Pakistan and half should be in
India so that fans don't need any visa. Pakistani fans should support
their team from their side and Indians from their side and this example
could also be followed in other sports."
Abbas, who played 78 Tests and 62 one-dayers for Pakistan during an
illustrious career, said sports should not suffer as a result of often
tricky diplomacy.
"Sports of both the countries have suffered because of the politics,
but people from both the sides want to see their teams playing - be it
hockey, cricket or any other sport," said Abbas, who acted as an expert
for an Indian television channel during the World Cup. Pakistan Cricket
Board officials have said they are in discussion with their Indian
counterparts for a short cricket series later this year, although
security fears for travelling teams in Pakistan remains a stumbling
block.
Pakistan have played games and series in neutral countries, but Abbas
said that was damaging.
"If Pakistan and India play at a neutral venue, how will people of
both the countries get to watch Indo-Pak series? It should be in India
or Pakistan," he said. AFP
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