IPL can be used to revive India-Pakistan relationship

Lily

B.R
Staff member
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Dubai: A former Sharjah Club opening batsman has called for the Indian Premier League to be used to revive the cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan.

Mohammad Nawaz is now an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) level two coach and was a prolific scorer for Sharjah during his heyday in the 1980s.

"Pakistan players should be included in the IPL as prelude to the revival of India-Pakistan cricket series," said Nawaz, who hails from Karachi and once averaged 112 in domestic cricket, his top score an unbeaten 178 against India Sports Club.

Abundance of players

"Soon many Sri Lankan players will be leaving IPL to play for their country in England. The Indian cricket board should sportingly include a few good Pakistan players in their place.

"There is an abundance of good Twenty20 players in Pakistan who can lift the standard of the IPL.

"If India agrees to include Pakistan players in the IPL then UAE should offer to host some of the matches next year.

"With large numbers of fans from both countries there will be packed stadiums."

According to Nawaz, who coaches at Emirates Cricket Training and Desert Cubs Academy, more countries should come forward to organise IPL-type tournaments.

"India has unearthed many players through IPL and so other countries too should try and stage such an event," he said.

"It will help them have good back up players for Twenty20 as well as one-day teams. If not for the IPL many players who are now knocking at the doors of the Indian team would have remained unknown.

"IPL is entertainment but it has contributed to the promotion of the game. It should remain free of politics."

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