Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam, who captained the national team from 1969 to 1975, believes that India should have toured Pakistan for a bilateral series and the Asia Cup.
India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series in 2012, when Pakistan toured India for three ODIs and two T20Is. That series was famous because of the debut of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who dismissed Mohammed Hafeez on his first delivery.
The last time India toured Pakistan was way back in 2006, when the two sides played three Tests and five ODIs.
Following a hiatus of nearly 15 years, India visited Pakistan thanks to then India PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 2003 peace gesture. Before the 2008 Mumbai attacks forced the cancellation of all upcoming engagements in Pakistan and the postponement of India's 2009 tour of Pakistan, bi-lateral tours were conducted in 2005 and 2006. Pakistan toured India in 2007-08.
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What did Intikhab Alam say about India vs Pakistan bilateral series?
Speaking to The Indian Express' Pratyush Raj, Intikhab Alam spoke at length about why India and Pakistan should participate in bilateral series and travel each other's countries.
"It would have been a great decision if India had travelled to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. Unfortunately, it has not happened."
Alam also requested the politicians to keep cricket and politics separate.
"Do you think cricket can survive without India and Pakistan? Our cricketers are great crowd-pullers, the ICC made tons of money from an India-Pakistan match. There is no relevance of any ICC cricket tournament if India and Pakistan are not playing against each other. My only request to our politicians is that instead of drawing out their swords, they should let the two teams play. Let the cricketers meet. Let them learn from each other. Let them travel.
"Cricket se hi pyar mohabbat badh sakti hai aur koi tareeka nahi hai. Ye chand log wo darwaaze bhi band karna chahte hai (Cricket is the only thing that can reduce animosity and can spread love and friendship between two countries. That’s the only way but unfortunately, few people from both sides of the border want to shut down the door of only hope)."
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Why won't India play their games in Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup?
During the Asia Cup, India might play their arch-rivals Pakistan and other teams at a venue outside of Pakistan. This is in accordance with a suggestion of a hybrid model made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the competition's hosts. The suggestion was made by PCB during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting that took place in March in Dubai.
At the meeting, India was represented by Arun Dhumal, the IPL chairman, and Jay Shah, the ACC president and BCCI secretary. After the AGM last year, the BCCI made it plain that the Indian squad would not be going to Pakistan for the Asia Cup since the central government would not grant permission.
