Former Pakistani cricketer Mudassar Nazar labels BCCI unfair on decision to stop cricketing ties

Lahore: Former Test player and coach Mudassar Nazar feels BCCI has been unfair to Pakistan and advised the Cricket Board here to look after its own interests where cricket ties with India are concerned.

"The present situation is really sad for me. It leaves me disappointed. Because I have played a lot against India in India, Pakistan and Sharjah and I know how important these matches are for development of a player and raising resources for the boards," Mudassar, who is now Director Academies in the board, told PTI in an interview.

He pointed out that while there was a partisan attitude when the two countries played in Pakistan and India but he had seen people of both nations sit together in the same enclosures and watch matches in Sharjah.

"Frankly speaking it saddens me and I think India has been unfair to us. It has come to a stage where the PCB should now only look after its own interests and get the best deal for themselves."

Mudassar said he didn't agree with statements from India that there should be no cricket with Pakistan because of political tensions between both countries.

"At some stage everyone has to realize that cricket has always helped in removing differences and reducing tensions. Allowed people to understand each other. I say just keep cricket and politics apart."

The former test player said India was in a powerful position today but it needed to deal justly.

Asked if he supported suggestions by some former players, including former ICC President, Ehsan Mani, that Pakistan should refuse to play India in group matches of ICC events, Mudassar said Pakistan has to do what serves its best interests.

Asked about the state of Indian cricket, Mudassar, who played 76 tests and 122 ODIs, said playing 13 Tests in a home season was a bit too much even by Indian standards.

"I know India has a huge market for cricket and huge viewership for cricket but still playing 13 tests in a space of few months is overdoing it. I just think India has yet to find the right balance between the three formats. At one time they had gone towards T20 cricket after the IPL and now they are going towards test cricket."

He also advised the ICC to find a system and determine a cycle to determine the world's number one test team.

"The current system doesn't work in my personal opinion. Today Pakistan is number one but by next week probably India will be number one. At the end of the day what matters is the prize purse that goes with being number one. So the ICC has to come up with a proper cycle."

He said it was easy to decide the best team in other two formats as they had proper World Cups. (READ-ICC Test Rankings: Virat Kohli & Co will dethrone Pakistan from top spot if they win at Eden Gardens)

The 60-year old also felt that eventually teams will adapt to day and night Tests and the pink ball.

"Day and night tests is a trial and test process and the purpose is to earn money from test matches. I think it will work in the future."