PCB chief hails BCCI’s decision while Gavaskar slams the Indian board; mixed reactions from politicians

Moments after the BCCI announced the resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief hailed the decision calling it “a step towards resuming the full cricketing ties” between the countries. “I am glad this has come through. Negotiations were on for quite some time and both the boards worked hard to make it happen,” PCB chief Muhammad Zaka Ashraf told DNA. The PCB chief termed BCCI’s earlier decision to invite Pakistan T20 champion side Sialkot Stallions for this year’s Champions League T20 as the ‘ice breaker’.

“Inviting the Sialkot team was the first positive move by the Indian side. Now with this announcement, the BCCI has taken a step in the right direction. All of us in Pakistan hope that this step will not only lead to normalising of relations on the pitch but also for the people of the two countries,” said Ashraf, adding, “the resumption of cricketing ties is also good news from the business point of view.”

Meanwhile a report in Mail Today says that the decision taken by the BCCI's powerful working committee has driven a deep wedge between the heavyweights associated with the gentleman's game including ex-cricketers and politicians. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar for one did not mince his words. "Recently, we had an extradition from Saudi Arabia which has confirmed their (Pakistan's) role in 26/ 11. Yet you want to play cricket with them," he said acerbically. India had snapped cricketing links with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

"Being a Mumbaikar, I feel what is the urgency when there is no cooperation from the other side?" the original Little Master of the game remarked, though adding in the same breath: "I respect the BCCI's decision, though I may not agree with it.

Former Team India member and MP Kirti Azad also slammed the move. "I'm opposed to the series. Mutual trust is lacking between the countries. They should not play even at neutral venues," Azad pointed out.

For their part, political parties appeared to be caught on the back foot. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said: "We maintain that politics and cricket should not be mixed." AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh was more unequivocal: "The match(es) should be held. Cricket match(es) will help improve Indo-Pak relations." However, the party's Maharashtra unit took a diametrically opposite stand. "The BCCI must consider the people's sentiments," state Congress president Manikrao Thakre said in Mumbai. The Samajwadi Party's unit in the state concurred. The Shiv Sena, always vociferously opposed to Indo- Pak cricket matches, stuck to its guns.