Inzamam happy with Indo-Pak series

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Inzamam happy with Indo-Pak series

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has welcomed the resumption of bilateral cricket ties with India and called on the arch-rivals to reciprocate soon.

"I am really happy that this positive development has taken place because it is important that Pakistan and India play bilateral series against each other on a regular basis," he said in an interview.

Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 378 one-dayers before retiring in 2007, said he had always given a lot of importance to matches against India.

"There is always great significance playing against India and it is always special and a treat for people in both countries.

"It is good we will soon resume bilateral ties and for this I think the Pakistan Cricket Board deserves a lot of credit for making this happen," Inzamam said.

The former captain also felt Indo-Pak matches deserve to be given special status.

"I would love to see a full Test series between the two countries soon and given iconic status. We need to dedicate a trophy in the name of two iconic cricketers of both countries so that there is more interest generated among the people," he said.

 "Sadly there have been frequent breaks in bilateral series between the two countries but I hope that this time this will last and I would urge India to also tour Pakistan and play a full Test series," Inzamam said.

Inzamam said some of the best memories of his long career were of matches against India.

"The 2005 Test tour to India was special as I captained and we won at Bangalore and it was a great tour for us and even winning against India at Lahore in 2004 was a memorable day for me. Tests with India always produce some great finishes," he noted.

Inzamam said the resumption of bilateral ties would help foster better relations between the two countries.

He also welcomed the PCB's move to organise the Pakistan Premier League and hoped that cricketers from other countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa would come to play in the event.
PCB confident of Indian hospitality
The security delegation it is planning to send notwithstanding, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf is confident that the national team would be provided well looked after during their upcoming tour to India.

Ashraf told reporters in Bahawalpur that the BCCI had assured them that Pakistan would be provided foolproof security while in India.

"We have full confidence in the arrangements that will be made by the hosts and we are sure our players will be able to focus on their cricket," he said.

Pakistan is due to visit India from December 22 to play two Twenty20 internationals and three one-dayers and the PCB would be sending a security delegation ahead of the tour to coordinate arrangements for the team with the hosts.

"In the past also when Pakistan went to play in India they were well looked after and security for them was very good. So we are not bothered by statements coming from some groups in India about not allowing Pakistan to play the series," he added.

He maintained that the forthcoming series that will revive the bilateral ties between the two countries after five years would be a successful one and lead to more contacts between the two teams.

Ashraf also made it clear that the PCB was committed to inviting teams to tour Pakistan to revive international cricket in the country.

"...we are hopeful international cricket will return soon to Pakistan. It is a matter of time and we are preparing for that time," he said.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has said it is committed to sending its team to Pakistan but this would be subject to security clearance from the government.

Bangladesh were to tour Pakistan in late April but the tour didn't materialise after the Dhaka High Court, in response to a petition, passed an interim order restraining the team from playing in Pakistan due to security concerns.