India-Pak series will resume under Imran rule, feels his elated former mate Mohsin Khan

As former cricketer Imran Khan inches closer to become the next Prime Minister of Pakistan, hopes are high over the resumption of bilateral cricketing ties between Asian rivals – India and Pakistan – that have remained affected because of the two countries’ strained relations politically and diplomatically.

Imran’s former colleague Mohsin Khan, one of Pakistan’s best opening batsmen who later tried his luck in Bollywood and married Indian actress Reena Roy, also thinks that Pakistan’s only World Cup-winning captain will try to improve the country’s overall sporting scenario.

He will make sure all sports do well

Sixty-three-year-old Mohsin, who played in 48 Tests and 75 ODIs for Pakistan between 1978 and 1986, told Sportstar: “He is not someone who will only go after cricket. He is going to make sure all other sports do well.”

Mohsin, who also served as Pakistan’s chief selector earlier this decade, Pakistan was once good in a number of sports besides cricket, including badminton, table tennis, squash, boxing and athletics and felt Imran would going to focus on sports’ overall development.

Mohsin is also hopeful that his former captain would work on improving relations with India and also expects that two countries will start playing each other soon.

“India-Pakistan series will happen very soon. Mutual respect for each other is important. Imran will make sure that Pakistan respects other countries and we get it back in return,” Mohsin was quoted as saying.

He also added that Pakistan’s policies with India haven’t been good in the past and that the only way relationships could improve was by giving and receiving respect. He said policies “misguided” people on both sides of the border and stressed that the message would be to lead a mutually happy life.

On the issue of alleged rigging of the recently held general elections in Pakistan, Mohsin backed Imran saying the people of Pakistan voted the PTI leader as he believed in merit.

India will play Pakistan a minimum two times in the Asia Cup tournament to be held in Dubai in September.

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