India Pakistan Cricket Series Gets Government Go Ahead; England Possible Neutral Venue

In what seems to be a thawing of relationship, it would appear that an Indo Pakistan bilateral cricket series may not be far off in the offing, subject to the matter of dates and international cricket schedules, not to mention the venue.

Indo Pak cricket

Judging by Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board chief’s statements, one would think that it was only a matter of time before India and Pakistan were locked once more in battle on the cricket field. According to Butt, the Indo Pak bilateral cricket series has the blessing of both, the Pakistan government as well as the Indian government, and that it is a matter of scheduling that will decide when cricket’s most intense battle will commence. The reported thaw was apparently pushed for when the Pakistan external affairs minister, Hina Rabbani, visited India recently and now Butt believes that the go ahead will help plan for an Indo Pakistan series at the earliest time possible.

There have been problems not related to cricket but diplomatic issues since the 26/11 terrorists attacks in Mumbai in 2008 with the Pakistan terrorist, Ajmal Kasab, now awaiting the death sentence. The Pakistan cricketers were the immediate ones affected after they were denied the opportunity to participate in the IPL after the inaugural season in IPL 2008 and thereafter, have not had a return to the lucrative Twenty20 league in India. Although Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20 team has also missed out on the Champions League Twenty20 thereafter, the biggest blow was in the immediate aftermath when Indian cancelled its tour of Pakistan, Although Sri Lankan obliged by way of replacing India, the Sri Lankan cricket team came under the horrifying terrorist attack while travelling by bus to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Pakistan cricket has seen their fortunes dip and with their missing out on co-hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, there has been an urgent need to resume cricket in Pakistan. Pakistan have had to do with playing in neutral venues such as the UAE and England where Pakistan suffered an image set back as three of the Pakistan cricketers were found guilty of spot fixing.

In that scenario, the fact that Butt remains optimistic of England being the possible neutral venue when India will play Pakistan stems from the fact that both nations enjoy a good expat population in the region which would be enticing for the England and Wales Cricket Board as well although the spot fixing scandal has apparently created apprehensions for England wanting to continue to extend the favour of being the neutral venue for Pakistan until the situation in Pakistan was considered stable.

The bigger concern though is the subject of the timing of the Indo Pak series because India have their 2011 cricket calendar packed and it would seem that no Indo Pak cricket would be possible until next year despite these feel good news reports that suggest a revival of one of the most riveting rivalries in cricket history, the latest of which was witnessed in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi final in Mohali.