KARACHI, Aug 21: Chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Ramiz Raja, will push for the resumption of India-Pakistan cricket ties, stalled for some three years, during a visit to India next month.

Ramiz has been invited to attend the International Cricket Council cricket committee management meeting in Mumbai in September.

Ramiz said he would use the visit to meet Indian Cricket Board and government officials to push for matches to start again.

“I view the visit as significant because it provides us with an opportunity to tell the Indian people and officials why it is important to have regular cricket ties,” Ramiz told Reuters.

“This is a good opportunity for us to highlight the futility of not playing against each other,” he said, adding that he had applied for a visa and hoped it would come through soon.

Because of tense diplomatic relations between the two countries who nearly went to war last year over the disputed state of Kashmir, visits between cricket officials of the countries have been rare.

Earlier this year, the Secretary of the Asian Cricket Council was refused a visa by Indian authorities to visit Kolkata to attend an ACC meeting.

The Indian government has banned bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan since 2000.

“We want to play with India because it is good for both countries and the region. Financially any series between the two teams is a big boost,” Ramiz said.

“We have suffered financially because of Indian’s refusal to tour Pakistan in recent times.”

The Indian Cricket Board has requested that its government give clearance for a junior team to visit Pakistan in November for a triangular series and also for a full tour by the senior team early next year.

BCCI hopeful

CHENNAI: Indian cricket supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya said he was hopeful that the government would decide in favour of reviving cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.

“Only the government has the authority to decide on this issue. We cannot go against the government’s policies but we are sure that the centre will help the countries revive their cricketing activities,” he told a press conference after the board’s Working Committee meeting here on Thursday.

“As usual we are confident about the revival and it may happen with the junior teams of the countries playing each other,” he stated. — Reuters/PPI