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Wasim Akram is keen to see Indo-Pak ties resumed quickly
India vs Pak on September 29, 2002?
NEW DELHI (AFP) - Despite continued military tensions on both sides of the border, India and Pakistan could meet on the cricket field as early as September 29. The match, however, will not require any special diplomatic skill or a sudden turnaround in the Indian government’s policies to ensure the first international between the two countries since May, 2000 takes place.
It’s the players themselves who can make it happen - India and Pakistan need to reach the final of the 12-nation Champions Trophy tournament in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo to break the ice.
Both India and Pakistan have been drawn in different groups of the International Cricket Council-organised tournament featuring the 10 Test-playing nations plus Kenya and the Netherlands. India are drawn alongside England and Zimbabwe in Pool B, while Pakistan are in Pool D with hosts Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
Even if both countries top their respective pools, the ICC have ensured they do not clash in the semi-finals, but a meeting cannot be avoided if they reach the finals.
The Indian government has banned bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan in protest at Islamabad’s alleged support for the Muslim militancy in the disputed region of Kashmir. But the Indian cricket board has permission to play in multi-nation tournaments which feature Pakistan, like the World Cup or the Champions Trophy.
India and Pakistan came to the brink of war earlier this year and still have hundreds of thousands of troops massed on their common border as a result of a December attack on the Indian parliament in December, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militant groups.
India last played against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in May, 2000. Since then, the Indian government has refused to sanction the Indian team’s trip to Pakistan for a scheduled Test tour, or play the arch-rivals in Toronto, Canada and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi, was last week in Islamabad to fix new dates for the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, which were postponed after the US-led strikes in neighbouring Afghanistan. The Games, featuring India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives, will be held in Islamabad from March 29 to April 7.
Kalmadi also used the opportunity to meet Pakistan Cricket Board chief Tauqir Zia and discuss the resumption of cricket ties between the two countries.
**An Indian cricket board official, however, said Kalmadi’s mediation was unlikely to resolve the matter. “There is no point talking to Pakistan about playing cricket again because they have never refused to play against us,” the official said. “The problem lies with our government’s stand and it is up to us to convince the government to allow us to play.” **
India are scheduled to make a Test tour of Pakistan in April 2003, their first to that country since 1989