LAHORE, Oct 5: Indians and Pakistanis should push their governments to allow cricket exchanges between the cricket-mad rivals to resume, former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar said.

“Politicians are careful over making the decision (to resume cricketing ties) but people can push them into it,” Manjrekar said at a university seminar late on Saturday entitled “Pakistan versus India, why not?”

“Over the years it has become a major, difficult political decision and since the gap is getting bigger, the decision is becoming a major one,” said Manjrekar, who played 52 Tests for India in the 1980s.

The Indian government cut all bilateral cricket ties, as well as various travel and diplomatic links, with Pakistan following an attack on its parliament in December 2001 which it blamed on militants backed by Islamabad.

No Indian team has visited Pakistan for a Test series since 1989-90.

However, recent peace overtures between the hostile neighbours and India’s clearance for a junior-level series have raised hopes that New Delhi could give the green light for its team to cross the border in February-March next year.

“Government knows it is a difficult decision and it would depend on political weather in India that we tour Pakistan in February next year,” said Manjrekar.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Ramiz Raja, who also addressed the PCB-organised seminar at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), said it was also important financially that India played Pakistan.

“We can earn 11 million dollars in 20 days of cricket with India and it is imperative and important that India play Pakistan,” said Ramiz, who led a Pakistan team in 1997-98 to feature in India’s Independence Cup.

Former captain Waqar Younis told the jam-packed auditorium of around 500 students that he regretted playing just four Tests against India.

“The biggest regret in my 14-year career is that I played only four Tests against India,” said Waqar, who made his debut when India last toured Pakistan in 1988-89.

“I think we are missing a great dual, people talk about Ashes series and South Africa v Australia, but I think Pakistan versus India is the best,” said Waqar.—AFP