We want reciprocity in Indo-Pak cricket ties: PCB chief

Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf has vented his frustration at the non-responsive attitude of the BCCI and said that relations between the two Boards would have to be built on reciprocal basis.

Ashraf made it clear that it could not be one-way traffic as far as Indo-Pak cricket relations were concerned. "We want to play India and have bilateral ties. But I think from now on the relations will have to be based on reciprocity and exchanges. We want to go and play in India but they must also tour Pakistan," he said at a press conference at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. Ashraf`s strong words on cricket relations with India came after he returned home from Singapore where he attended Asian Cricket Council meeting without getting any confirmation or indication from the BCCI delegation about when bilateral cricket ties between the two countries would be resumed. Worse still the PCB chief returned home disappointed that the Indians had agreed to give priority to the Asia Cup at the cost of the Pakistan tour to India next year in March and April under FTP. "Unfortunately their President didn`t come to attend the ACC meeting. But I am hoping to meet him next month during the ICC meetings. Where I think we need to have a frank discussion on where Indo-Pak relations stand," Ashraf said. The PCB chief also made it clear that he desperately wanted to see foreign teams start touring the country again and that is why he had invited the Bangladesh Board to send its team to Pakistan next year. "It is a question of breaking the ice. Once Bangladesh send their team I am sure we can tell the rest of cricketing world that conditions in Pakistan have changed and it is safe now to host international sporting events," Ashraf said. "I think we need one team to tour Pakistan to let everyone know that it is not the same situation as it was when Sri Lankan team had its incident in Lahore." Ashraf said the Bangladesh Board would send a high level security delegation to Pakistan next month to inspect and study the security situation and arrangements based on which their team will tour Pakistan. He said Pakistan expressed its interest in hosting the 2014 Asia Cup at the ACC meeting in Singapore. "We have informed the ACC that we want to host the Asia Cup and we have got a positive response. So we are hopeful we can get this tournament in Pakistan as well," he said. PTI