Misbah calls for India, Pakistan revival
Pakistan's Test and one-day captain Misbah-ul Haq on Thursday called
for a quick revival of matches against arch-rivals India, saying that
fans were keen to see the teams play.
"It is very important that we have a quick revival of Indo-Pak
cricket, because fans desperately want to see both countries play,"
Misbah told reporters.
India broke off diplomatic and sporting ties with its neighbour after
the 2008 attacks on Mumbai which left 166 people dead and were blamed on
militants based in Pakistan.
But the visit last month of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to
India has raised hopes the nuclear-armed rivals are eager to revive ties
in sports, trade and travel.
Cricket, the major sport in both countries, was discussed between
Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with Singh passing
information on to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
After the talks, the BCCI gave the green light to Pakistan's domestic
Twenty20 champions Sialkot Stallions to take part in October's Champions
League. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf and chief
operating officer Subhan Ahmed -- who toured India to watch the final of
the Indian Premier League on Sunday -- have raised hopes of an imminent
breakthrough.
Misbah, 38, played down reports in local media that players were not
satisfied with pay rises awarded by the PCB last week, after a delay of
five months.
"Pakistan cricket is improving and such reports to create
controversies are not good for us," said Misbah. The PCB upped players'
monthly salaries by 25 percent and match fees by 10 percent.
"I think it must be welcomed as the PCB is not earning much because
of no international cricket in the country," said Misbah.
Pakistan has not hosted any major international cricket since gunmen
attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.
Misbah and the rest of the one-day team fly to Colombo on Saturday
for the series against Sri Lanka. AFP |