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KARACHI: After the indication that bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India are likely to reusme, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf is hopeful that the two countries will be able to host a joint Twenty20 league in the future.
"I have a futuristic approach and I see a joint India-Pakistan Twenty20 league. If the two leagues are combined, it would be the biggest league in the world. Imagine what that league would do," Ashraf was quoted as saying by Mail Today.
The PCB chairman added that he had not discussed the plan with anyone yet but after a positive response from India's cricket board regarding the bilateral series, Ashraf is hopeful of further collaborations and developments in the future.
Pakistan is set to play a series in India later this year.
There are also plans of inviting Indian players to Pakistan's own T20 league which is scheduled for March next year after Pakistan's tour to South Africa, despite BCCI not allowing its players to play in foreign leagues. However, Ashraf is optimistic.
"We will invite foreign players. We will also invite Indian players, though I know that the BCCI doesn't allow them to play in such leagues abroad but we don't see any boundaries; there are no boundaries in cricket," Ashraf said.
He further added that India should let its players play in the Pakistan Premier League while allowing Pakistani players to do the same in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
"Pakistanis should be allowed to play in the IPL; it is a good tournament. Both India and Pakistan should release their players for each other. That would encourage and strengthen bilateral ties," he said.
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Comments (34) Closed
Nov 01, 2012 05:03pm
Zaka is unable to do anything on his own. and is counting on India to help him out.Next months tour of India was requested by Zardari to the Indian PM who used his influence and made it happen. Zaka had no part in it. He has still been unable to invite ant test playing country to tour Pakistan.As it is T20 is big in India they do not need Pakistan`s help, they already have South Africa another emerging economy as their partner.
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Nov 02, 2012 07:45am
My two cents for Zaka: Have a heart, just get over with the series you have managed to achieve. Do not brag to the extent that you appear like a buffoon.
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Nov 02, 2012 12:00pm
yeh right..
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Nov 01, 2012 01:06pm
wishfull thinking Mr Zaka !!!! no Offense lols
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Nov 01, 2012 02:16pm
Well though Zaka seems to be flying high, but I don't see any harm in this. If India can somewhat collaborate with S.Africa on Champions League then they can surely do this. Plus they don't have any thing to lose in this.....
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Nov 01, 2012 12:38pm
come on be realistic...i hardly think india's gonna agree to have a combined T20 league with pakistan....the IPL is already big on it's own, so what would india gain from having a combined league with us...if it does materialises, Pakistan is the one who would have everything to gain whilst India already have what they want...
frankly speaking I don't see India agreeing to this proposal of Pakistan's...
we're quite capable of holding our t20 league on our own...we shouldn't be goin after everyone seeking for help !!!...because the message that we're sending out is that we seem to be incapable of arranging it on our own...shouldn't have to be like that...if it works out then good, if it doesn't then that's good enough too...if we fail while trying, that's still better than not trying it out at all...
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Nov 01, 2012 07:24pm
If we can't get rid of the Talibans, at least minimise their influence and their acts. This has not happened, which makes security in Pakistan very poor indeed. The Taliban and their ilk only need to succeed once, even within a hundred attempts,for Pakistanis to once again lose out on international cricket at home. Let's not run before we can walk.
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Nov 02, 2012 12:29am
Aun dear please convey good message,,I wish this great idea of Zaka materialise one day. We should do something to combine these two countries. God bless you all.
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Nov 01, 2012 04:58pm
Anu go read your own country's newspapaer
Dont waste your time here
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Nov 01, 2012 05:13pm
We don't want famed Pakistani match fixer n why Pakistan is begging in front of India I think PCB is so happy regarding Indian invitation as if they Pakistan has won world cup no placed for defamed match fixer Pakistani
pls do a honest introspect n see y people from all over the world do not want to come n play any game in Pakistan forget cricket Give peace a chance mate
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Nov 01, 2012 01:02pm
That's the kind of fear Indians have of Pakistani players... you guys know if we are allowed to play in IPL, will ruin the fame of your players and it will be Pakistanis all over.. Give peace a chance mate
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Nov 01, 2012 05:54pm
Awesome answer bro! I don't know why after partition and after all the suffering and wars, they want to join forces with India while they themselves are at war with each other. India doesn't have to do anything that comes from the hole called pakistan. No visas, no cricket and def no joint league. To you yours, to us ours, Alhamdullilah.
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Nov 01, 2012 01:59pm
truly said anu................y would india want that......
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Nov 01, 2012 04:33pm
Actually, Taimur and gang, you are the guys who are taught doctored history...and you can check this out by reading not Indian versions, but international narratives of partition. I have no problems with joint league or whatever, but let it be known that IPL is already the largest league without Pakistani participation. In fact, India is the largest in many aspects without Pakistani participation. Pakistan and its citizens have an exaggerated sense of how important or big they are. For India, Pakistani participation and market are inconsequential -- or as consequential as Bangladesh. But if you want to sup at our table, welcome. We should be happy to cooperate with anything that promotes peace and helps you come out of the dark hole you are entering.
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Nov 02, 2012 10:38am
our economic problems are also the same ? Are you sure what you are talking about ?
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Nov 01, 2012 03:16pm
Some fools couldn't understand this and divided the country . We know , our gov has short memory , but we don't have .When it comes to money , then yes ???What a shameful statement!!!
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Nov 01, 2012 04:04pm
While we are at it, we should also have a joint parliament and we should join our economic ministries. Many problems the 2 countries face are the same, our economic problems are also the same. India and Indians can gain a lot through Pakistan in the field of commerce as we are a food secure country, and we have some very seasoned politicians.
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Nov 02, 2012 10:44am
There is no way in the world, INDIA gonna join with us for t20 league. They will simply say we still are the biggest league alone in the world which is true. I just can't get it why Pakistan is so much desperate to tour india and get along with them at any cost. There are more cricket playing nations as well we can concentrate to have better relationships with. England who did so well allowing us to play test series with Australia have not been contacted in the way they should have been after that cricket scandal. We surely lost a good friend in them. But, all we care is about INDIA INDIA INDIA!!!!
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Nov 01, 2012 11:54am
foolish dreamy Zaka
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Nov 01, 2012 11:52am
What a joke!!!!
Zaka thinks India will join this idea... lol..
This totally cracked me up!!! :D
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Nov 01, 2012 06:58pm
This is hatred , not fear .I don't know whether you really don't know or don't want to know . You have been ruining our fame through out world cup matches and pakistanis are everywhere starting from Mumbai blast to NY blast.
Thanks
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Nov 01, 2012 07:53pm
Why PCB is dieing to play with Indians?? Why can't we do thing on our own??
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Nov 01, 2012 11:06am
No sorry.....we already have the biggest league in the world and don't want to combine it with Pakistan. You do yours and we will do ours. You guys didn't want one country and moved away. Now please reap what you have sown.
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Nov 02, 2012 06:24am
Joke of the year!!
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Nov 01, 2012 01:20pm
excuse me, i think you wanted to address question to Nehru instead of Pakistan re moving away... biggest problem with indians is zero understanding on history!!!
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Nov 01, 2012 11:23am
Yes there can be so many possibilities if Pakistan was a peaceful country but...............
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Nov 02, 2012 06:53am
Thanks for the offer Mr Ashraf but IPL is already the biggest league in the World.
You should host joint league with Sri lanka and Bangladesh
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Nov 01, 2012 04:43pm
I sincerely hopeful of a joint T20 match.India should consider talented Pak cricketers playing IPL .
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Nov 01, 2012 11:25am
if the two countries combines, it would be biggest force on the globe. rather say b.desh also.
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Nov 02, 2012 06:47am
Can't see into the mirror someone showing it to you.
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Nov 02, 2012 06:51am
Pakistani players, as individuals, are brilliant cricketers. It is the PCB mismanagement that is their greatest drawback
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Nov 01, 2012 12:26pm
very basic very raw minded answer, Annu. Learn how to speak/ write on blogs/ social topics.
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Nov 02, 2012 07:15am
Lets understand Zaka's intent rather than reading too much into the content. He certainly wishes both countries to team up. Players of both sides playing in each others leagues is not a bad Idea. Lets open up to each other. Well about a combined league I don't think it can ever happen as IPL franchisees will not let that happen, its about huge monies ta stake and nobody will like it to be shared.
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Nov 01, 2012 11:39am
Wishful thinking by the PCB
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