Newly-appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Zaka Ashraf has been in attendance at recent matches during the ongoing Pakistan-Sri Lanka series in the UAE. Speaking in Dubai today, he provided his views on a number of issues facing Pakistani cricket, including the staging of home series in Pakistan and a potential resumption of cricketing ties with India.

15 November 2011

Newly-appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Zaka Ashraf has been in attendance at recent matches during the ongoing Pakistan-Sri Lanka series in the UAE. Speaking in Dubai today, he provided his views on a number of issues facing Pakistani cricket, including the staging of home series in Pakistan and a potential resumption of cricketing ties with India.

  

About his trip to Dubai and meetings held.

The aims of the meetings are for the Pakistani Cricket Board, and the other Boards in world cricket, to come together and build relationships. We invited the Chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board to today's match and had a fruitful meeting.

The other objective is to meet the management of other boards within the international community, try and get them to attend our domestic cricket tournaments and basically to improve relations with all international boards.

  

On the possibility of Bangladesh playing in Pakistan.

Nothing specific, but I did mention this to the Chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, who was very supportive. He has suggested we present the case for resumption of cricket in Pakistan to his board, specifically with respect to the security issues.

I have informed him we will, and ask them to raise whatever points that they want us to address so they are satisfied, and are willing to build a system accordingly, such that an incident like Lahore never happens again.

  

On the letter written to his Indian counterparts.

I wrote the letter upon being appointed Chairman of the PCB. I haven't had a response as yet, but we want a positive reply as we feel that both Pakistan and India should play each other as its good for both countries. It doesn’t matter where we play, be it in Pakistan, India or UAE, but the contest should resume between the two great nations. Why should they [the public] be deprived of cricket? If they can play hockey then why not cricket? We should resolve whatever doubts they have – treat sport as sport and proceed on those lines.

I feel that this brings both countries together – a win or loss doesn’t matter, but what really matters is that relations improve – this is good for both countries and it's good for world cricket. Both countries are taking steps to improve relationships so the same should be happening in cricket and I don’t see why the Indian Board should not respond to the positive gestures by us – in fact they should welcome it.

We have to break the ice and this hesitation between the two countries – once we start the series, slowly we will build relationships and bring cricket back to Pakistan.

 Response to letters written to other boards regarding the resumption of cricket in Pakistan.

I've written to all of the boards. We have received a positive response from Australia.

We also wrote to Giles Clarke at the English Cricket Board, and he responded very positively about Pakistani cricket and the possibility of the resumption of a Pakistani home series. He has made some very positive comments in the Daily Telegraph and praised the vision of cricket in our country and the pledges the Pakistan Cricket Board has undertaken with respect to security. He indicated the English Cricket Board is happy to work with us.

 
On whether an anti-corruption unit is to be set-up in Pakistan.

Anti-corruption, security, and also keeping an eye on Pakistan tours and to keep any negative influences away from the team so our cricket team and country stays away from controversy.

 
On the time-frame for international cricket returning to Pakistan.

No time-frame as yet, but we are trying to improve our security arrangements so Bangladesh and Sri Lanka can come and play one-day cricket, which will pave the way for more teams to tour.