Former cricketer Farokh Engineer calls on Pak PM Imran Khan to restore India-Pakistan test cricket ties

Engineer who was a popular player of the 1960s and 70s, expressed hope that India and Pakistan may start a dialogue, now that Imran Khan has become the Prime Minister of the country.

Image: Facebook (Imran Khan)

New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Farokh Engineer has called on Pakistan’s cricketer-turned-Prime Minister Imran Khan to revive the India-Pakistan cricket ties. The former India wicketkeeper-batsman was speaking at the inaugural Ranji Memorial Public Conversation on Cricket in London this week, where he expressed belief that Imran Khan can use his political clout to revive the bilateral test cricket between the arch-rivals. The bilateral cricket ties between the two countries have nose-dived after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Amid escalating political tensions furthered by consistent breach of ceasefire along the Line of Control, the countries have stopped playing bilateral matches and they only play each other in multi-nation events such as the World Cup. The last time the neighbours met in a five-day international was in Bangalore in 2007. At the event, Engineer who was a popular player of the 1960s and 70s expressed hope that India and Pakistan may start a dialogue, now that Imran Khan has become the Prime Minister of the country. "They should be playing Test cricket against each other because it will do Pakistan cricket, their economy, a world of good. But you hear about border skirmishes and this and that. They've got to have dialogue," Farokh was quoted as saying by PTI. Engineer said he believed that Khan is the appropriate leader who could take correct steps in this regard as he himself has been one of the most ‘outstanding’ cricketers in the region. He said, "As a cricketer, I would love India to play Pakistan or vice versa. But it is a question of convincing the political leaders. Basically we are the same people. Both countries have extremely talented cricketers and I, for one, would love to see that happen but unfortunately the brakes are on." Former Pakistan batsman Mushtaq Mohammad, who was on the same panel, said, "We'd love India to come to Pakistan that would be a real boost. We'd love England to come, Australia. We play our 'home' series away from home, which is a very sad episode." Most major cricket nations have refused to tour Pakistan on security grounds since the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, forcing the country to play its 'home' matches in the United Arab Emirates.