LAHORE, Dec 3: Former Test batsman and Director General Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Javed Miandad has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) as well as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to adopt a concrete and comprehensive policy to avoid further damage to the game due to terrorism.

“Being the game’s governing body, the ICC should think about the solution as the factor of terrorism could hit the game further because after Pakistan, now Indians are also facing its consequences,” Miandad told Dawn on Wednesday.

“The ACC is going to meet in Colombo this week and I do hope all the

regional countries will come out with a concrete policy to save the game from suffering due to terrorism,” said Miandad.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt left for Colombo on Wednesday to attend the ACC meeting and it is most likely that his meeting with the BCCI president Shashank Manohar on the occasion will resolve the issue of the forthcoming series between the two neighbouring countries.

The Indians are due to visit Pakistan in Jan-Feb 2009 to play three Tests, five One-day International, and one Twenty20 game.

“At the moment no place in any part of the world is safe and no country should be singled out for security problems. This fact must be realized by the cricket bosses or the game will continue to suffer,” he said. “As a cricketer I know how it feels when there’s no on-field action

and the Pakistani players have already suffered a lot. The recent postponement of the Champions League and, earlier the ICC Champions Trophy are enough to force all cricketing playing nations to impose on ICC to formalise such a policy which can protect the interests of the players and other stakeholders,” the former captain added.

Miandad asserted that the Indian cricket team must visit Pakistan next year to send the right signals to game’s detractors. “Pakistan is also ready to play there as it is the right way to help each other. Though officially, the tour of India to Pakistan is on because nothing final has been received from the BCCI. I hope a wise decision is taken by all,” he said.

“I would like to advice the BCCI to take the decision carefully and not in haste. Though at the moment the situation is quite grim and it is difficult to take a decision under such circumstances, I would say let the things cool down before finalising anything,” he advised. “I am sure the BCCI will be in a better position to take a suitable decision about their tour to Pakistan after the situation calms down.”

“The BCCI, before taking any unpopular decision, should think how the countries of the region have their interests tied up with each other through cricket. Our cricketers are playing in India and, most importantly, the Asian countries have to host the World Cup-2011 jointly for which the preparations are about to start. Furthermore, Pakistan is the candidate to host the ICC Champions Trophy, so the game has to play a vital role inn bringing the Asian countries close to each other,” emphasised Miandad.

“I will also personally ask England players to tour India to play the two remaining matches there as by doing so they will give a helping hand to BCCI to uphold the traditions of the game,” he said.