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| November 7, 2003 | Friday | Ramazan 11, 1424 |
Resumption of India, Pakistan ties good for cricket
LAHORE, Nov 6: Chief Executive, Asian Cricket Council, Syed Ashraful Huq said on Thursday that resumption of Pakistan-India cricket ties will serve the cause of cricket not only in Asia but globally.
“It is a heartening sign that the deadlock is finally broken and both countries are now willing to play cricket at all levels which will ultimately serve the cause of cricket”, he told newsmen at a press conference at Gadaffi Stadium.
He said the presence of Indian under-19 cricket team for Asian under-19 championship in Pakistan, showed there was some light at the end of the tunnel.
ACC official observed that the visits of junior teams between the two countries will finally pave the way for the visit of the Indian senior team to Pakistan early next year.
“ACC is delighted that the respective governments of both the countries have finally realised to resume cricket relations and the ice has been broken with the visit of the Indian junior team,” he said.
Huq admitted if there was no cricket between the two neighbouring countries then ACC becomes a meaniningless body and the cricket suffers overall.
He said it was the result of efforts at Government level to resume cricket, adding, it was wrong to give entire credit to ACC.
“As a body we can organise and promote cricket and can extend support to our affiliate members countries, but we cannot direct or influence any country to play cricket with another country”, he said.
Huq said ACC was receiving a grant of US $ 6.5 million from games ruling body, International Cricket Council (ICC), after every two years and the money was being spent on the promotion of game among 16 member countries.
“A few countries including Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore have made tremendous progress in cricket and they are now knocking at the doors of one-day international cricket which is due to the hard work of ACC”, he said.
ACC official said one regional academy each at UAE and Malaysia will start functioning next year, while ACC’s central academy will be established at Nepal in the next few years with the assistance of Cricket Australia.
He praised the efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for putting the game on modern lines with the addition of a most modern cricket academy and said this institution can be used by ACC to develop cricket for those countries which lack infrastructure and allied facilities.
He said Asia Cup would be held next year either at Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.
Answering a question, he said, that ACC cannot impose penalties on any affiliate member country if it declines to fulfil its cricket commitments.—APP
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