Akram: Cricket will improve Pakistan-India relations
Posted: Wednesday January 13, 1999 05:07 PM
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Akram said Pakistan's tours of India always are marred with tension due to the emotional rivalry between the two nations Lawrence Griffiths/Allsport |
KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistani captain Wasim Akram, apparently undeterred by threats from Hindu militants, said Wednesday he was looking forward to the tour of India and hopes it will improve relations between the two neighbors.
"Personally, I am in favor of the tour... But a final decision will be made by the Pakistan Cricket Board," he said.
Hindu extremists have vowed to prevent a two-test series between Pakistan and India that is scheduled to start in Madras on February 28.
The fate of the series depends on the report from a Pakistani cricket official, who is touring India to review security arrangements.
It has been more than a decade since Pakistan played test matches in India, and almost as long since India played in Pakistan.
Last week, militants belonging to the extremist Hindu Shiv Sena party dug up the New Delhi Stadium ground in a bid to disrupt the series, which forced the Indian authorities to shift venue of the first test match to Madras.
Akram urged that politics and cricket be kept separate.
"The Indians definitely want Pakistan to come and I hope we will play good cricket," he said.
Extremist groups in India and Pakistan are opposed to matches between the two countries, which have fought three wars since the subcontinent obtained independence from Britain in 1947. Relations often remain tense.
It has been more than a decade since Pakistan played cricket in India, and almost as long since India has played in Pakistan.
Akram said Pakistan's tours of India always are marred with tension due to the emotional rivalry between the two nations and the recent threats by the Hindu extremists have only added to the situation.
"But in the past it has not affected our performance," he said.
"My boys are working hard, our team is good, but fielding is our weak area which we are trying to improve."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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