Lahore, Oct 05: Sanjay Manjrekar threw his weight behind the resumption of Test cricket between India and Pakistan, calling for a series between the two nations as early as February 2004. "If ever India has a chance to beat Pakistan in Pakistan it would be in February next year," Manjrekar told a seminar entitled "Pakistan Vs India why not?" at Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Around 500 students attended the seminar, organised by the Pakistan cricket board, which was also attended by PCB chief executive Ramiz Raja and pakistan Test paceman Waqar Younis. India has not played a Test match in Pakistan since Manjrekar hammered a double-century in the 1988-89 season at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

India has cancelled three scheduled Test series in Pakistan over last three years.

"Over the years it has become a major difficult political decision," Manjrekar explained. "The BCCI wants to resume the ties and it was not a big issue three years ago, but since the gap is getting bigger the decision is becoming a major one." Manjrekar has been in Pakistan for the last one and a half months as a television commentator, broadcasting the Pakistan-Bangladesh tour. He is also part of the commentary team which is covering the present Pakistan-South Africa series.

Manjrekar said his family members were apprehensive about him leaving for Pakistan.

Bureau Report