Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf has expressed optimism for the revival of cricket ties between India and Pakistan. Talking to reporters here at the Lahore Airport on return from New Delhi on Saturday, Zaka said they would soon announce good news regarding resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.
The PCB Chairman said he had visited India on the invitation of BCCI to see the final of IPL, adding his meetings with Indian Board Chief and some ministers remained fruitful. Zaka had earlier announced in Delhi that India and Pakistan could take significant steps towards the resumption of cricketing ties, with even the possibility of the announcement of a series in the ICC's annual conference in Kuala Lumpur in June.
Zaka during his stay in Delhi also had meetings with the Pakistani High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir, and political leaders of several parties, ruling and opposition. It may be noted that India and Pakistan have not played each other in a bilateral series since December 2007. It is India's turn to tour Pakistan, but the country has not hosted any international series between two Full Members at home following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in March 2009 in Lahore.
Bilateral ties between India and Pakistan have been frozen since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Pakistan, however, travelled to India to play in the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup. To a query, Ashraf said his discussions with BCCI President N. Srinivasan were very positive. When asked about causes of defeat of Pakistan cricket team in the first Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka, he said performance of team could not be judged with defeat of a team in a single match. About the dispute arising out due of boundary wall of Qadhafi stadium, he said he would share details after getting necessary information.