Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raza admitted that arch-rivals India and Pakistan should continue playing against each other to save the game of cricket.
Meanwhile, both the teams will square off against each other on September 19 in the Asia Cup. This will be the first time India and Pakistan will play each other since the last year’s Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, Ramiz Raza while speaking on the steep decrease in the popularity of Test cricket, admitted India and Pakistan should play to preserve the game.
“Saving cricket is the most important reason why India and Pakistan must play cricket (together),” Raza said.
Bilateral series between the two batting powerhouses are also important even if the odds against seem irresistible, he argued.
“People-to-people contact is so important…and I take you to the 2004 series when I was working for the cricket board. And it was the best experience. You ask the fans of India and Pakistan — they sat together, ate together. That is the way to go,” Ramiz Raza continues.
India and Pakistan, meanwhile, last played a bilateral series way back in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India. They played a three-match ODI series where Pakistan snubbed India 2-1 to win it. Since then, due to ever-growing political tension between the two nations, a bilateral series didn’t take place.
However, many cricketers have come up and called for the renewal of bilateral series again.