A lot of work needs to be done to revitalise Pakistan-India cricket: PCB Chief Ramiz Raja

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja feels a lot of things need to come in align for the bilateral series between India and Pakistan to resume. The two teams, since 2013, have been facing each other only in the ICC events and the Asia Cup. Their recent clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup witnessed the Babar Azam-led Pakistan side beat their arch-rivals for the first time in a mega event.

Ramiz Raja met the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting earlier this month. Speaking on the same, he felt that if politics is kept away from the sport, then the cricketing bond could be created between India and Pakistan.

“I met with BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah on the sidelines of the ACC meetings. We need to create a cricketing bond, while I have also believed that politics should stay away from sport as much as possible and this has always been our stance,” Ramiz said according to Hindustan Times.

Ramiz Raja realizes INDO-PAK ties may not resume easily

However, the PCB Chief admitted that a lot of work needs to be done for the arch-rivals India and Pakistan to play again in a bilateral series. However, he was happy that he had a good discussion with the top BCCI personnel. “A lot of work needs to be done to revitalise Pakistan-India cricket but there needs to be some comfortable level between the two boards and then we can see how far we can go. So overall, we had a good discussion,” Ramiz added.

Meanwhile, Ramiz Raja will be delighted that Pakistan are doing well in the T20 World Cup having defeated India and New Zealand. They have more or less sealed their place in the semi-finals but are still left to play three matches against Afghanistan, Namibia and Scotland.