Let's create a situation where India ask us to play: PCB MD Wasim Khan

Wasim Khan, Pakistan Cricket Board’s new managing director, has played down chances of seeing India and Pakistan resuming bilateral ties in the near future. He, however, said that the time might be right to think of an alternate plan to make both the countries play again. With the political tension between the two fiery neighbours showing no signs of improving, the chances of seeing them resuming their famous rivalry look next to impossible.

The Indian government has made it crystal clear that it wouldn’t give BCCI the green light to go ahead and play with Pakistan. On the other hand, the PCB has been trying all it could to persuade the BCCI. From suggesting a neutral venue, threatening the BCCI with legal actions to trying out other plans, the PCB has left no stone unturned to resume the bilateral ties but without any success and things at this moment are not looking promising either.

Both the countries last played a bilateral series in 2012 when Pakistan visited India for a short ODI and T20I series. The last full-fledged series between the two nations took place in 2007 when Pakistan visited India for five ODIs and three Tests before the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai took place and the BCCI suspended the bilateral ties with Pakistan. Since then both the teams have only played in ICC tournaments or the Asia Cup.

“It’s a massive challenge,” Wasim was quoted as saying in Times Now. “And I don’t think we’re going to see any solutions anytime soon. I think elections are going on in India, so nothing is going to happen in the near future. But, we are trying and [PCB chairman] Ehsan [Mani] is trying hard to get them to the table and get things moving.”

“We keep on asking them to play us but let’s create a situation where they ask us to play. I think we need to do that. It’s sad that we are not playing against them but life continues. We need to move forward and carry on. We can’t wait forever to play India. Our focus is to develop Pakistan cricket and get our team and players a lot of success at the international level,” he added.

Ehsan Mani agrees with Wasim:

PCB chairman Ehsan Mani, meanwhile, agreed with Wasim’s views on India-Pakistan cricket. He said that until the elections are done in India, the PCB is not willing to engage in any talk with the BCCI. He also said that India would themselves want to play Pakistan if the latter become one of the best teams in the world.

“Until it’s not done (elections in India) there is no point in engaging them at this stage because we have to start over with new people in the BCCI,” Mani said. “But our relations with the Indian board are very good and we have mutual respect but we won’t be imploring them to play us. If we will take Pakistan cricket to a level where we are among the top three teams in the world, they will come on their own to play with us.”

“I get a lot of messages from Indian journalists and public about their wish to play against Pakistan. Unfortunately, politics sneaks in which I don’t believe sports should ever be mixed up with. But it happens in our environment, especially in India it happens a lot. But I understand when they are done with elections their attitude will get right too,” Mani mentioned.

India and Pakistan last played in the Asia Cup where the Men in Blue thoroughly dominated their arch-rivals and had gone on to win the tournament.  The two teams will next lock horns against each other in the upcoming ICC World Cup.

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