ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah discussed enhancing cricket relations between their two countries on Wednesday, with the latter extending a “warm welcome” to the former, the PCB said in a statement.
The development takes place a day before Ashraf is scheduled to travel to India on Thursday at the BCCI’s invitation, ahead of Pakistan’s World Cup match against Rohit Sharma’s side in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Ashraf said he was traveling to India to “motivate” the Pakistan cricket team, urging Babar Azam’s side to play “fearless cricket” against their arch-rivals on Oct. 14.
Shah and Ashraf spoke over the phone today, Wednesday, where the former expressed his delight to have the latter in India for the big-ticket clash, the PCB said.
“We both discussed how the forthcoming match is an opportunity to explore ways in which we can further enhance and promote the cricketing relations between our countries,” the PCB quoted Ashraf as saying.
Shah offered to facilitate Ashraf by arranging his meetings with other high-ranking officials during his visit to India, the PCB said, adding that the BCCI secretary extended a “warm welcome” to him.
Ashraf said he found it essential to show the Pakistan cricket team his “unwavering support” during the World Cup.
“The players have put in immense hard work and dedication to reach this point, and I am confident that they will give their best to make us proud,” he said.
Cricket has been a victim of a soured political relationship between the neighbors and bitter rivals, who play each other only in multi-team events like the World Cup.
In recent weeks, the PCB has repeatedly expressed its disappointment over a delay in visa clearance for Pakistani fans and media. On Wednesday, the PCB said Ashraf’s decision to travel to India came after it was confirmed that Pakistani journalists had been asked by Indian authorities to submit their passports for visas to cover the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.
Around 60 Pakistani journalists are expected to make the trip for the World Cup.
Pakistan had plenty of local support for their World Cup fixtures against Netherlands on Friday and Sri Lanka on Tuesday but no member of their media contingent or fans were present.
Pakistan and India are both in good form before the World Cup, with the two sides winning their first two fixtures of the tournament. India beat Australia and Afghanistan while Pakistan vanquished the Netherlands and Sri Lanka during their World Cup encounters.
PCB chief, BCCI secretary discuss enhancing Indo-Pak cricket ties
https://arab.news/rt8gd
PCB chief, BCCI secretary discuss enhancing Indo-Pak cricket ties
- PCB chief Zaka Ashraf speaks to BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah over the phone
- Ashraf will travel to India on Thursday ahead of Pakistan’s World Cup clash against India
Gunmen kill 3 Revolutionary Guards in Iranian province bordering Pakistan
- Iranian state media says attackers ambushed patrol in Sistan and Baluchistan province before fleeing
- Border region with Pakistan and Afghanistan has long seen militant and smuggling-related violence
TEHRAN: Gunmen killed three members of the Revolutionary Guard in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan near the Pakistan border, state media reported.
The Guard members were ambushed while patrolling near the city of Lar in a mountainous area about 1,125 kilometers (700 miles) southeast of the capital Tehran, the official IRNA news agency reported.
IRNA did not report whether any Guard members were injured in the attack.
The Revolutionary Guard is pursing the attackers it calls “terrorists,” but they remain at large. No group has taken responsibility for the attack, IRNA reported.
The province bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan, one of the least developed in Iran, has been the site of occasional deadly clashes involving militant groups, armed drug smugglers and Iranian security forces.
In August, Iran’s security forces killed 13 militants in three separate operations in the province a week after the group killed five policemen who were on patrol.
