India-Pakistan”s bilateral relation has hit the new low after 2018 Pulwama attack in February. The cricketers from both sides of the border have quite often engaged in verbal battles making things worse. Amidst these grave times, former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif has pinned his hopes on Sourav Ganguly to help Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) resume bilateral ties.
Since taking over as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India”s (BCCI), Ganguly has taken some bold steps to mull the apex body out of the mess. Incidentally, Sourav Ganguly, during his cricketing days, played a crucial role in India agreeing to tour Pakistan in 2004 despite BCCI’s reluctance.
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India clinched the five-match ODI series 3-2 while they also won the three-match Test series 2-1. Rashid Latif believes Ganguly can be the ideal catalyst to help PCB resume bilateral series. The former cricketer also feels only cricket can help to improve the political relations between India and Pakistan.
“As a cricketer and BCCI President, Ganguly can help (Ehsan) Mani and the PCB,” Latif was quoted as saying by ‘The Nation’. “Unless full-fledged Pakistan-India bilateral series resumes, things won’t improve for both countries. The world wants to see Pak-India playing cricket,” he said.
The last time India and Pakistan played any bilateral series was in December 2012 for three ODIs and two T20Is. The ODIs were held in New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai with Ahmedabad and Bangalore hosted T20I fixtures. Since then, they have played against each other only in ICC events, most recently during the ICC World Cup 2019 in England.
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Rashid Latif also urged PCB CEO Wasim Khan to play an active role in persuading top nations to tour the country to play cricket. Recently, Pakistan witnessed the return of the game after a decade when Sri Lanka toured last for limited-overs series followed by two Tests.
“PCB CEO Wasim Khan should also play his active part to ensure top cricket-playing nations come and tour Pakistan as it will help Pakistan cricket and local players,” he concluded.