Pakistan may press for cricket diplomacy, India not keen: Report

New Delhi: With terror situation on the rise by pushing jihadis across the border, current National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, may be on the lookout of confronting Pakistan for its failure on this issue. His counterpart Sartaj Aziz is, however, determined to give next week’s National Security Advisor-level talks in New Delhi a sporting angle.

This could lead another level of discussions to fail given the tensions brewing hot between the two countries.

According to a report in DNA, Pakistani delegation is “keen” on convincing India to resume bilateral cricketing ties.

Sources have claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahrayar Khan, who served as the country’s foreign secretary from 1990 to 1994, held “constructive meetings” with Aziz in Lahore a few days ago. It is understood that Khan and Aziz are “on the same page” as far as cricket is concerned. Pakistan is desperate to resume cricket ties with India.

Earlier, Khan had called on BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya in Kolkata a few months ago. Khan was optimistic after his meeting with the veteran administrator, but BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur was quick to pour cold water on the MoU inked between the two cricket board chiefs.

According to that agreement, India will play a full series — three Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is — against Pakistan in the UAE provided the Narendra Modi government allows the BCCI to do so.

India last hosted Pakistan between December 25, 2012 and January 6, 2013 for a short series comprising two T20s and three ODIs. Otherwise, the teams have kept bumping into each other at ICC events like the World Cup, Champions Trophy and World T20.