The rising diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have taken a huge toll on the cricketing ties. The top two cricket playing nations of Asia haven’t played each other in a bilateral Test series since 2007. But recently, Pakistan’s World-Cup winning skipper, Imran Khan, swore-in as the new Prime Minister of the country which has given a hope to former Indian cricketer Farokh Engineer that he may take the step in resolving the bitterness among the neighbours.
“Imran Khan, he is the prime minister now. Hopefully, India and Pakistan will start a dialogue,” Engineer, a flamboyant player of the 1960s and 70s said during the inaugural Ranji Memorial Public Conversation in London this week.
“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.”
Khan, one of the outstanding all-rounders of his generation, became Prime Minister earlier this year and Engineer believes he now has the authority to break the impasse.
Engineer 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,” Engineer lamented.
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.
The last time the neighbours met in a five-day international was in Bangalore in 2007.