ICC President David Morgan wants a resumption of India-Pakistan bilateral cricketing ties because he feels the on-field rivalry between the two countries is as big as the Ashes.
Morgan said he wants to help revive cricket ties between the two countries which were suspended in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.
“One of the things I am working on is trying to persuade the BCCI that they should play more bilateral matches against Pakistan as opposed to just in ICC events,” Morgan told ‘ The News ’
“This is because Pakistan versus India is equivalent to the Ashes. It is very important for both countries that they renew their rivalry on the cricket field in Tests. I am very hopefully they will,” he added.
Morgan said the way cricket has suffered due to the volatile security situation in Pakistan remains a matter of concern.
“We are concerned with the fact that Pakistan is going through tough times because of the security situation in their country,” Morgan said.
“The ICC is determined that Pakistan should be assisted.
Pakistan is an extremely important cricketing nation, a very important part of the ICC. It is an important part from world cricket’s point of view that Pakistan is not isolated,” he added.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has been asking the BCCI to get permission from its government to resume bilateral ties in a short one-day or Twenty20 series sometime this year.
“There was this belief in Pakistan that the ICC was trying to isolate them which is not true at all. There was this belief that they were being removed as hosts but this was not true as well. We couldn’t stage the 14 World Cup matches in Pakistan but the hosting rights remain with them,” Morgan said.
