Tendulkar and Ganguly can help revive India-Pakistan cricket -
Gavaskar
Sachin Tendulkar is an MP and Sourav Ganguly is the head of the
Cricket Association of Bengal. Sunil Gavaskar feels the former Indian
stars can play a crucial role in help resume cricket ties between India
and Pakistan.
In a special show on NDTV ahead of Saturday's World T20 blockbuster
between India and Pakistan, Sunil Gavaskar came up with the unique
suggestion that Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly could convince the
Indian government to resume bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan.
(A man who is much loved in Pakistan - he made his Test debut there -
Gavaskar said Tendulkar was in pole position 'as an MP' to help resume
cricket between the two countries)"May be Sourav Ganguly can help too,"
the former Test opener said, reacting to a question if he could play a
role in resumption of bilateral cricket between the arch-rivals.India
and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series, usually comprising
Tests and ODIs, since the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008.
Despite signing a MoU in 2014 to play six bilateral series between
2015 and 2023, the Board of Control for Cricket in India was forced to
pull out from the December 2015 series after the government cold
shouldered efforts from the Pakistan Cricket Board.Gavaskar agreed that
cricket between the two nations should not be politicised and added that
cricketers had no role in resumption of a bilateral series.
"We really don't know what goes on behind-the-scenes in politics and
diplomacy," he said.Politics should not mix with sports.
That was the universal message that emerged from the special show
that was anchored by NDTV's Vikram Chandra in Delhi and Munizae Jahangir
in Islamabad.
The show revolved around cricket, diplomacy and music with former
Pakistan superstar Javed Miandad speaking on India's cricket
relationship with Pakistan and Union Minister Babul Supriyo lending his
sporty views with a musical touch.Miandad recollected his happy memories
with Indian cricketer and how he had sledged Gavaskar to dismiss him
caught at gully during a match in Jaipur.
The former Indian captain also remembered how he would spend quality
time with players like Zaheer Abbas and Miandad after a day's play.
However, Miandad was still not willing to forgive Shahid Afridi,
whose 'India Love' comment after arriving in Kolkata last week angered
several people in Pakistan.
"How can one give you more love than your motherland?" Miandad
said.Miandad, Pakistan's warrior prince and known for his passion for
cricket, however said Afridi's performance was central to Pakistan's
campaign in the ICC World T20."
He should bat higher up in the order and face the maximum number of
balls. Hope the team has learnt from its mistakes from the Asia Cup,"
Miandad said. |