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Islamabad:Unlike a Wasim Akram who feels politics and cricket should not mix, Shoaib Akhtar is clear that a bilateral series between India and Pakistan is impossible when there is tension between the nations due to terror activities.
According to the ICC Future Tours Programme, India are scheduled to play Pakistan in an ‘away’ series at the end of 2015. But Akhtar says such a series looks impossible with India upset with cross-border terrorism in recent times.
The Indian cricket Board’s secretary Anurag Thakur, a BJP MP, has categorically ruled out an India versus Pakistan series due to the tensed political climate and Akhtar is not surprised.
“Everybody knows to keep politics separate from sport, but unfortunately there’s a lot of unrest on the borders and it’s not right to play at this time,” Akhtar has been quoted as saying.
The 40-year-old Akhtar is often seen on Indian TV these days. He feels cricket cannot thrive under tension.
“I would encourage that, whenever the unrest settles and whenever India and Pakistan are ready to talk again at the highest level, cricket would be the perfect way to bridge relations.
“They are still two of the best teams in the world and neither can avoid each other if you want to keep cricket interesting. You cannot ignore that the rarest of talent comes out of these countries and that people love to see them play against each other,” Akhtar said.
The ICC president, former Pakistan Test captain Zaheer Abbas, had recently said that a bilateral series between India and Pakistan can only take place only if governments agree to play. Hence Akhtar is not far from reality.
