Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Roger Binny praised Pakistan for treating him well during their short visit to the country. BCCI's Vice President Rajeev Shukla also agreed with Binny and expressed that cricket could be the bridge between the arch-rivals who have not engaged in bilateral cricket for over a decade.
Invited by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to watch a few matches, Binny and Shukla returned to India via the Attari-Wagah border on September 6. After a long gap of 17 years, BCCI office-bearers travelled to Pakistan.
"We had a very good meeting in Pakistan. We received very good hospitality. They took care of us very well. The main agenda was to watch cricket and to sit and discuss things with them. Overall, it was a very good trip," Binny told PTI after their arrival.
"Pakistan treated us very well, they went out of the way to make us comfortable."
The last time an Indian cricket team played on Pakistan soil was in the Asia Cup 2008. The last bilateral series India played in Pakistan was in 2006. The last Pakistan cricket team to visit India for the white-ball series was in 2012. However, the two teams meet each other in multi-nation tournaments, especially International Cricket Council (ICC) events.
Binny stuck to his earlier statements when asked about the resumption of bilateral series between the two neighbours as he said, “BCCI can't say. It is a government issue, and they will have to take a call. We need to wait and see. And hopefully, it will happen because the (ODI) World Cup is coming up, Pakistan team will be in India to play.”
India and Pakistan recently went up against each other in an Asia Cup clash on September 2 in Sri Lanka. They will lock horns again on September 10 in a Super Fours match. Later, Pakistan will travel to India for the ODI World Cup. They will face each other again on October 14.
Shukla praised Pakistan for their hospitality as well during the short visit.
"The meeting was very good. The Pakistan Cricket Board took very good care of us. The security was tremendous, all the arrangements were fabulous. It was a goodwill visit for cricket which went well.
"The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mr Jay Shah is also BCCI secretary, so keeping in mind that, we had this visit. BCCI enjoys a good relationship will all the ACC members, that's why we also visited Sri Lanka."
Shukla was asked about the resumption of bilateral ties as a medium to restore peace between the two nations. He did not give a diplomatic answer as he replied, "Cricket has always been an important medium even before. Take the 2004 tour, for example; the atmosphere that was created resulted in a great friendship and trade delegations. The shopkeepers were not even taking money from people, that was a great atmosphere."
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