PCB boss Shahryar Khan writes letter to BCCI urging to keep cricket away from politics

New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Shahryar Khan, on Wednesday wrote a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in order to confirm the status of the proposed bilateral series between the two countries in December.

Shahryar Khan, who after weeks of rumbling, met BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya in mid May to revive cricketing ties between the two neighbours, appealed that politics and cricket should not be merged.

"Politics is vulnerable to highs and lows and the sport of cricket should be kept away from it, cricket is a tool to formulate peace between the countries." Pakistan newspaper The Express Tribune quoted him as saying.

India have in recent times hinted that cross-border terrorism could jeopardise cricketing ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Earlier, Khan had outrightly rejected the suggestion from ICC President Zaheer Abbas to go and play its home series in India in December.

"We will not go to India to play our home series. I will now be seeking a clear stance from the Indian Cricket board on the planned series (in December in UAE) by sending them a letter this week," Khan said.

Abbas, a former captain, rubbed a lot of people the wrong way when he told the media in Lahore on Monday that Pakistan should not show stubbornness in its attitude and for betterment of cricket and revival of Indo-Pak ties, it should go to India to play its December home series.

The last series between India and Pakistan was held in 2012-13 when Pakistan visited India for a three-match One Day International and two-match Twenty20 International series. Pakistan had won the ODI series 2-1, while the T20 series ended 1-1.

It was Pakistan's first cricket tour of India in five years, after the infamous Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, which stalled all bilateral ties between the two countries.

(With Agency inputs)