India Pakistan resume cricketing ties

India-Pakistan resume cricket series after nearly five years. After Mumbai attack the central government has given permission to Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] for three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches with Pakistan. The decision has caused protests  from the field of cricket and politics.

India and Pakistan cricket board’s executive committee on Monday decided to restore relations . The Board said in a statement that they will host the Pakistani cricket team from December 2012 to January 2013 for three one day and two Twenty20 match series. Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi, Bangalore and Ahmedabad in the day while the T-20 will be the venues.

Senior Member of the Board Rajiv Shukla said the Board was considering playing at a neutral venue. Pakistan invited Indian team to come on December 22 . Pakistan tour of India begins when their series with England comes to an end.

Shukla on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs P Chidambaram said that “no objections were raised by anyone including the Foreign ministry . Even after the 1971 and Kargil war with Pakistan in 1999 we had continued to play.  On being asked whether Pakistan is likely to be the host team, he replied that the security situation are not up to standards, hence no question of the Indian team to Pakistan.”

Rajiv Shukla said the BJP member and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley was supportive of the decision. People always like watching India – Pakistan matches. Political circumstances are different from the relation between PCB and the BCCI which is a loving one.

November 26, 2008 in Mumbai saw terrorist attacks which severed cricket ties with Pakistan . In recent months, the Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] made many attempts to revive the rivalry. India and Pakistan played last series in November 2007, which was won by India 3-2. After the attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore, no international team has set foot on Pakistani soil. PCB hoes restoring relations with India will improve economy and conditions.

Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has criticized the BCCI’s decision. “Being a Mumbaikar I feel what is the urgency when there is no co-operation from the other side,” said Gavaskar. The two teams last met in the Asia Cup, where India thrashed Pakistan by 6 wickets with Virat Kohli smashing an unbeaten 183.