ID :
176885
Wed, 04/20/2011 - 22:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/176885
The shortlink copeid
No decision on resumption of Indo-Pak cricket ties: FS
New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI) No decision has been taken
on "resumption" of cricket ties with Pakistan, Foreign
Secretary Nirupama Rao said Wednesday in the backdrop of
reports that Indian cricket team may tour that country early
next year.
She said, "Hv (have) been asked abt (about) resumption
of cricket ties with Pak. Want to clarify no such decision,
although sporting contacts may be encouraged."
Replying to another question on twitter, Rao said,
"Sporting contacts btw (between) India and Pakistan, bar
(barring) cricket, have been taking place. This can be
encouraged further. Hope I am clear."
During their informal talks on the sidelines of Indo-
Pak cricket World Cup semi-final in Mohali on March 30, Prime
Ministers of India and Pakistan had expressed desire to have
normalisation of bilateral cricketing ties.
"Cricket has become a uniting factor and I think one
thing which we can agree is that the sporting links between
our two countries should be normalised as early as possible,"
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in his opening remarks at
the dinner he hosted for his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza
Gilani, who on his part invited Indian cricket team to
Pakistan to play matches there.
This was followed by a flurry of reports from Pakistan
on a possible tour by the Indian cricket team early next year.
Also, sources here indicated that government will not
have any problem if the team wished to tour Pakistan.
However, the Cricket Board had maintained that they
have not been told anything by the government decision and it
had been pointed out that the Indian cricketing calender was
full for next four years.
There has also been scepticism about whether Indian
players will visit Pakistan, given the security situation
there. During a tour for a test-series in 2009, Sri Lankan
cricket team was attacked by terrorists in Lahore.
Another dimension to the issue was presence of strong
feelings within the team in the aftermath of 26/11 terror
attacks as reflected in the views of Gautam Gambhir, who
dedicated the World Cup victory to the victims of the Mumbai
terror attacks.
on "resumption" of cricket ties with Pakistan, Foreign
Secretary Nirupama Rao said Wednesday in the backdrop of
reports that Indian cricket team may tour that country early
next year.
She said, "Hv (have) been asked abt (about) resumption
of cricket ties with Pak. Want to clarify no such decision,
although sporting contacts may be encouraged."
Replying to another question on twitter, Rao said,
"Sporting contacts btw (between) India and Pakistan, bar
(barring) cricket, have been taking place. This can be
encouraged further. Hope I am clear."
During their informal talks on the sidelines of Indo-
Pak cricket World Cup semi-final in Mohali on March 30, Prime
Ministers of India and Pakistan had expressed desire to have
normalisation of bilateral cricketing ties.
"Cricket has become a uniting factor and I think one
thing which we can agree is that the sporting links between
our two countries should be normalised as early as possible,"
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in his opening remarks at
the dinner he hosted for his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza
Gilani, who on his part invited Indian cricket team to
Pakistan to play matches there.
This was followed by a flurry of reports from Pakistan
on a possible tour by the Indian cricket team early next year.
Also, sources here indicated that government will not
have any problem if the team wished to tour Pakistan.
However, the Cricket Board had maintained that they
have not been told anything by the government decision and it
had been pointed out that the Indian cricketing calender was
full for next four years.
There has also been scepticism about whether Indian
players will visit Pakistan, given the security situation
there. During a tour for a test-series in 2009, Sri Lankan
cricket team was attacked by terrorists in Lahore.
Another dimension to the issue was presence of strong
feelings within the team in the aftermath of 26/11 terror
attacks as reflected in the views of Gautam Gambhir, who
dedicated the World Cup victory to the victims of the Mumbai
terror attacks.
