KARACHI, Dec 3: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) strongly favours England’s return to India to play the two-match series, believing it “would give out positive signals for cricket in the sub-continent”.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Saleem Altaf also felt the move would ease the way for the Indians to take a positive decision on playing Pakistan next year.

“If England returns despite the carnage caused by the Mumbai attacks it would give out positive signals for cricket in the subcontinent. We feel it will also go a long way in India playing us,” he said.

After the Mumbai attacks that killed over 180 people the England team returned home without playing their final two one-dayers. But they are now close to confirming their return for two Test matches.

Altaf said he was confident of a lot of positive happening if England returned to India. “I fully support the statement of England captain Kevin Pietersen that we can’t let cowards run cricket. These terrorists who caused so much carnage in Mumbai have to be given out a clear message that people in the region want to live a normal life,” he said.

Altaf said India was one of the most influential forces in international cricket now and if they hosted England and then toured Pakistan it would clear the security doubts surrounding cricket in the subcontinent. India has to take the lead now. “So far the Indian board has just told us that they are waiting for directives from their government and that is the present status quo,” Altaf said.

“Our Chairman Ijaz Butt will meet with his Indian counterpart in Colombo this week during the Asian Cricket Council meeting to discuss things while I am also going to attend the ICC chief executives meeting and we hope to make some headway on the Indian’s tour,” he said.

The Indian board is also waiting for its government to give a final decision on whether they should tour Pakistan from January four or if the series was to be cancelled. Pakistan has suggested if India does not tour the series can also be relocated to neutral venues. The PCB official said the board remained confident that eventually cricket will prevail over terrorism and the Indian government will clear the tour. “Cricket has to resume in the subcontinent,” he said adding that “We know that the Indian board wants to support us. Hopefully, the series will be played on schedule right now that is the most important thing for us.”

Altaf confirmed that players had been told to refrain from giving statements on Indo-Pak cricket as it was a sensitive issue. “Their contract also bars them from interacting with media without prior permission,” he said.

He also made it clear that the PCB stance on cricketing ties with India was clear as always. “We don’t believe in mixing sports with politics.”—Agencies