India/Pakistan Relations on the Improve ??

[Donny]

India-Pakistan cricket to resume?
Wisden Cricinfo staff - 9 May 2003


Vikram Verma, the Indian sports minister, has clarified that a decision is yet to be taken on the immediate resumption of cricket with Pakistan. He told an Indian news agency: "Things will not happen overnight. Relations will have to improve overall."

A news report had yesterday quoted sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) saying that Atal Behari Vajpayee, India's Prime Minister, had approved the resumption of cricketing ties. It further said that an official announcement was expected within the next week, following a slight political thaw in the acrimonious relations between India and Pakistan. But Verma said that the Indian Prime Minister is yet to decide on the matter.

Verma said that besides his ministry, the external affairs and home ministries too would be involved in the decision. The BCCI had formally applied to the Indian government for resuming bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan.

Pakistan are due to tour India, as per the ICC calendar, in February 2004. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are insisting that India show its good faith by first playing in Pakistan.

Tauqir Zia, chief executive of the PCB, said: "We are planning to host India in February 2004 and we have approached the International Cricket Council in this regard."

The Asia Cup, which has already been postponed twice, might also finally take place. Syed Ashraful Huq, the Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) chief executive, said: "We are hoping to host the Asia Cup in the first week of April 2004. It may even be held in Pakistan, the original venue, instead of Sri Lanka ... but it all depends on a lot of things."

Huq added: "We will also try to organise an ice-breaking match in September this year – provided India allows its team to play against Pakistan."

[Donny]

BCCI proposes India-Pakistan series
Wisden Cricinfo staff - May 27, 2003

Undeterred by the Indian government's repeated snubs, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has proposed a full-fledged series against Pakistan early next year. According to a report in The Indian Express, the series is being planned for February-March 2004, immediately after the Indian team's tour of Australia, and will include three Tests and five one-day internationals.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suggested a neutral venue for the series, on the condition that Pakistan are considered notional hosts and given the commercial rights for the series. Pakistan have twice played home series at neutral venues – against West Indies in Sharjah, and against Australia in Colombo and Sharjah. Apart from those two venues, Tangiers and Abu Dhabi have been mentioned as possible alternatives for the Indian tour.

If the series does take place, it will be a huge blessing for the cash-strapped PCB. According to estimates, the total revenues from the series could be around US$10 million.

The report also stated that the Indian board had proposed a two-match ODI series – with one match to be held in each country – in late September or early October this year, but SK Nair, the BCCI's secretary – ruled out that possibility, saying that the Indian team had no free dates before February 2004.

[Donny]

Back to the drawing-board for India and Pakistan
Wisden CricInfo staff - June 12, 2003

India and Pakistan are no closer to resuming cricket ties, according to an Indian news agency, after negotiations between the two countries stalled.

Both sides have shown a recent willingness to get out of the boardroom and onto the cricket field, and tentative tour plans had even been discussed, with one-day internationals in each country in September, followed by a full series in Pakistan in February 2004. But for the time being, it's back to the drawing-board.

"After those few days of excitement, there is a general despondency in the two camps as we seem to be heading nowhere," an unnamed cricket official was quoted as saying. "At the moment, I doubt if we could have any cricket between the two countries in September. But we cannot afford to be lax and want to keep everything in place should we get positive signals from the government."

The Pakistan Cricket Board is particularly eager to resume ties. It is suffering a financial squeeze from cancelled tours and needs to play as much cricket as reasonably possible.

[HAL]

Really? Both of them? No really. . . . it's true.

[Donny]

India-Pakistan cricket to resume at junior levels
Wisden CricInfo staff - June 18, 2003

Junior cricketers from India and Pakistan are likely to be at the forefront of a thawing in the relationship between the two countries as early as February. Annual triangular one-day tournaments between Under-19 teams, Academy sides and A teams from the two countries, and Sri Lanka, are being planned, with the first possibly in February.

The heads of the two boards, Jagmohan Dalmiya and Lieutenant-General Tauqir Zia, met in London during the Asian Cricket Council meeting at Lord's to discuss ways to resume cricketing relations. Zia said that regular competition at lower levels would break the ice and help resume cricket between the two countries on a regular basis.

Both India and Sri Lanka have their academies operative while the first entrants in Pakistan's National Cricket Academy are expected within the next few weeks.

Zia added: "The PCB chief executive and Secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are discussing the modalities of the tournaments that will soon be implemented."

Zia also said that Dalmiya had updated him on the possibility of India touring Pakistan early next year for three Tests and as many one-day internationals. "Mr Dalmiya has informed me that although the Indian government is very keen to resume bilateral tours between the two countries, the BCCI is still awaiting official clearance from New Delhi for next year's tour," said Zia. "But Mr Dalmiya is optimistic that BCCI would get the go-ahead and India will tour Pakistan."

[HAL]

Really? Both of them?