Date:15/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/15/stories/2008121550951700.htm

Sport - Cricket

‘Do not snap cricketing ties’

Karachi: Urging the Indian cricket team to tour Pakistan early next year, former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq on Sunday said the two neighbouring nations should not snap cricketing ties as the game has always helped in neutralising tensions.

M.S. Dhoni and Co. was slated to tour Pakistan in January-February next year, but the series is now in jeopardy following last month’s terror attacks in Mumbai.

However, Inzamam was of the view that if the Indian government decides not to allow its cricketers to tour the strife-torn nation, Pakistan should not end cricketing ties.

“I think this would serve no purpose. In fact all said and done cricket has always served as a good tool to lower temperatures between the two nations in the past whenever relations have been tense or strained,” he said.

Inzamam said India should go ahead with the tour as per schedule and understand and support Pakistan cricket’s present predicament. — PTI