‘Talks for India series not for financial gains’

Dubai: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan, whose trip to India for talks with Indian cricket board officials for resumption of bi-lateral series was destroyed by Shiv Sena activists, said he did not go to India for the ‘financial gains’ for his board but for making this series a bridge of peace between the two countries.

“Playing with India is certainly not for the financial gains, but it would become a kind of bridge of peace between the two countries. It becomes very important for people of both countries to connect. It is not that I speculate on this because I know that is the truth,” the former diplomat told Gulf News in an interview.

When asked whether he feels Shiv Sena activists’ reaction could be also the general reaction of the Indian fans towards Pakistan, Khan said: “I don’t think that is the reflection of the Indian fans. Though I am not an Indian and really can’t speak for the Indian fans, I have been associated with the 1999 and 2004 India-Pakistan series and I can assure you that the people of India and Pakistan want the series to take place. This feeling is right across the board whether you are from South, North, East or West. The reception we got during our 1999 series was incredible. People in Chennai stood up for 40 minutes to wait for the Pakistan team to come out and thank them with a victory lap. It was an incredible feeling.”

Khan also reminded of the reception Pakistan fans got in Mohali in India during 2011 World Cup. “When we went to Mohali to play the semi-finals, it was amazing that the fans from Pakistan were given free cinema shows, and the chief minister of Indian state of Punjab hosted a dinner for them at the ground for nearly 5000 people. It is spontaneous and it happens.”

Khan also recalled the 2004 series in Pakistan. “When India came to Pakistan in 2004, the reception they got especially for players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly was special. Nearly 20,000 fans who came from India were given a magnificent welcome in Pakistan. I feel there are only a few people who do not agree to such a series but I am certain that majority of the people do want to have a better relationship and cricket can become the bridge of peace here.”

Khan said that the India-Pakistan series, if held in the UAE, would have been stupendous. “Should India ever play us here, you will have this stadium full to the rafter,” said Khan.

When asked whether Pakistan may not play in the Twenty20 World Cup if the bi-lateral series eventually falls through, Khan said: “We are going to take a decision on that only when the door is closed. We have still a 10 per cent chance to host the India-Pakistan series. My friends in New Delhi and elsewhere keep ringing me to say don’t consider the door completely closed as it may still happen. We will take a decision on Twenty20 World Cup only once the door is closed and that decision has to come very soon because the series is in December and by the end of October, we must decide on it.

“If it’s a no, then only we will decide on T20 participation but certainly T20 does come into the picture not only as a sort of retaliation for India not honouring its MOU but also on the security front. How can a team from Pakistan expect to be sure (of safety) with this kind of thing happening?”

Khan also revealed that for the oncoming Pakistan Super League to be held in UAE, he will have no hesitation to include Indian players. “I am going to talk to Mr Shashank Manohar (BCCI President) on this matter. We have no objection to Indian players playing in our PSL if they want to come but it will only be right our players should also be allowed to play in the Indian Premier League The reply may be that franchise holders are a little bit insecure with Pakistani players due to the security risk, but I think on this issue we can come to some kind of principle agreement.”

India and Pakistan have not played a full series since 2007 after India stalled all bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after the 2008 attacks in Mumbai.