Pakistan’s Test and one-day skipper Misbahul Haq called for quick revival of bilateral cricket against arch-rivals India, saying fans were keen to see the teams play.
‘It is very important that we have a quick revival of Indo-Pak cricket, because fans desperately want to see both countries play,’ Misbah was quoted as saying by the ‘Express Tribune’.
India broke off diplomatic and sporting ties with its neighbour after the 2008 attacks on Mumbai which left 166 people dead and were blamed on militants based in Pakistan.
But the visit of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf and chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed, who toured India to watch the final of the Indian Premier League last month have raised hopes of an imminent breakthrough.
The 38-year-old Misbah also played down reports in local media that players were not satisfied with pay rises awarded by the PCB last week, after a delay of five months.
‘Pakistan cricket is improving and such reports to create controversies are not good for us,’ he said.
The PCB upped players’ monthly salaries by 25 per cent and match fees by 10 per cent.
‘I think it must be welcomed as the PCB is not earning much because of no international cricket in the country,’ the veteran said.
Pakistan has not hosted any major international cricket since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.
Misbah and the rest of the one-day team will fly to Colombo tomorrow for the series against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad has already reached Hambantota where the first of two matches will be played today.
–UNI