New Delhi, Oct 20: Cricket legend Wasim Akram today urged India and Pakistan to "keep politics away from the game" and play each other more often. "People in both countries love the game. Pakistan and India need to play each other more often," said Akram who was here to join a television channel telecommentary team.

"Cricket should go on and must remain just a game. Politics should be kept away from it." Akram, who was part of the Pakistan team that lost to India the last time the two played each other at the World Cup in South Africa early this year, said problems crop up only if the teams play once in five years.

"Then there is a lot of hype and also a lot of pressure on both the sides. We should play more often to avoid such a situation," said the left-arm speedster who holds the record for taking the highest number of wickets in one-day cricket. Akram said the players` approach to India-Pakistan matches is normal. "For us (playing against India) is just a job. We are friends off the field. We meet each other in the mornings and evenings and ask about each other`s families."

Bureau Report