Indo-Pak cricket should resume: Imran Khan

Famous Pakistani cricketer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf President Imran Khan while speaking at ”Agenda Aaj Tak” conclave on Friday said Indo-Pak criket series should resume at the earliest which would help in normalizing relations between the two nations.

Mr. Khan, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and urged him to resume cricketing ties between the two neighbours, said: “When I suggested to Mr. Modi about resuming Indo-Pak series, he just smiled and said nothing…I am yet to decipher whether it was a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, but I am taking it all very positively.”

“Do not cut people to people contact…Let cricket begin by keeping politics aside. Do not just whole of Pakistan with those abetting terror. Do not let some “sick” people in Pakistan to divide us. Hatred is not going to help,” he asserted.

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Deve, who was also at the conclave, however said Indian players as well as the BCCI wants Indo-Pak series but they cannot go against the government. “It is for the government to decide on the issue. But relations between the two nations should improve,” he added.

When asked whom does he regard as better batsman – Sunil Gavaskar or Sachin Tendulkar – Imran Khan said Gavaskar as during his era he faced one of the best fast bowlers the game has ever produced. He also said India winning 1983 World Cup was a bigger win than Pakistan’s world cup victory as India faced one of the most talented cricketing team the game has ever seen.

Asked about his decision to plunge into politics, Imran Khan said for him it is not a career. “I am in politics to fight injustice…My objective is not just to be Prime Minister of Pakistan but to do serve people of Pakistan. Politics has been a stepping stone for me…Cricket taught me to struggle and I am now using it to fight for the people of Pakistan,” he added.

However, Kapil Dev said politics was not his cup of tea and he was happy with what he was doing. “I am not mentally prepared to be in politics…I am happy with my charity and social work,” he added.