Dubai: A planned series between India and Pakistan due to be held in the UAE this December should be postponed on account of politics, according to former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.
Relations between the countries have deteriorated recently, with dialogue fading after a spate of skirmishes on the border.
That for Akhtar, who was in Dubai on Thursday to promote the Sprite Cricket Stars tournament, is reason enough to call off what would have been the first bilateral series between the sides since 2007.
“Everybody knows to keep politics separate from sport,” he said. “But unfortunately there’s a lot of unrest on the borders and it’s not right to play such a Test between the two countries at this time.
“However, I would encourage that, whenever the unrest settles and whenever India and Pakistan are ready to talk again at the highest level, cricket would be the perfect way to bridge relations.
“They are still two of the best teams in the world and neither can avoid each other if you want to keep cricket interesting. You cannot ignore that the rarest of talent comes out of these countries and that people love to see them play against each other.”
The UAE was due to host three Tests, five One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches this December in the first of six meetings between the two sides to be held over the next eight years. The series hasn’t officially been cancelled, but is believed to be in serious doubt due to current relations.
