Malick Asghar Hashmi / New Delhi

Is the ‘cricket diplomacy' next on the agenda of those working behind the scenes in Islamabad and New Delhi towards normalising the relations between India and Pakistan?

Though voices in support of this idea have started emerging on the social media sites, neither the governments in Delhi and Islamabad nor the Boards of Cricket Control have spoken on this.

However, both the countries seem to be quietly working towards reviving cricket as part of their bilateral relationship.

Rameez Raja, former captain of the Pakistan cricket team who played well in the PCL, has openly asked the two teams to start playing against each other.

In a report published in Pakistan's prestigious newspaper 'Jung' Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) President Ehsan Mani also supported this. He claimed, "I was contacted for a new series." 

Earlier Rameez Raja has said that the absence of cricket matches between India and Pakistan has made the game lose its charm.

It’s interesting to note that even outside the green rooms, many Pakistani cricketers including Rameez Raja, Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram have personal relationships with Indian cricketers.

During the lockdown due to Corona, when a Pakistani cricketer was trying to deliver food to the poor people of his country, our two cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harjabhan Singh appealed to the people for donating towards his cause. Given the environment of hostilities, this appeal turned out to be controversial.

In the past the 'Cricket Diplomacy' has proved helpful in bringing Pakistan-India closer. The relationship between the two countries had nosedived after the more than 40 soldiers were killed in an attack sponsored by Pakistan-based militants in Pulwama, Kashmir.

Sources say discussions have started between the two countries for playing T20 series as part of the peacemaking efforts.

According to Pakistani media, a PCB official on cricket diplomacy said that no one has spoken directly to India about reviving cricket, but there are indications that "it’s going to happen.”

On the other hand, when Pakistan's media house 'Jio' contacted PCB chairman Ehsan Mani, he said that no one has contacted him for the Pakistan-India series. He is not in talks with the Indian board about this.

It may be pointed out that T-20 World Cup is scheduled in India in October. There is also a debate about whether a series of T20 can be played between the two countries before the World Cup. 

With this, the Indian media has been quoted by the Pakistani media as saying that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has written a letter to the ICC assuring that the cricket fans, media personnel, team and the concerned management are all in a way for the World Cup to be held in October-November. 

The facilities and visas have been arranged. Remember that Pakistan Cricket Board is also a member of ICC.

A report from the Pakistani media has also said that the concerns of the Pakistan Cricket Board will be discussed in the ICC Executive Board meeting on 31 March and 1 April. On the other hand, PCB sources said that Pakistan's team is very busy this year,

But if Pakistan-India governments agree to play a cricket series, then Pakistan will be ready to play three T20 matches with India. Pakistan played the last series in India in 2012-13. Now if efforts to revive cricket were successful, then it is possible that the series will be played in Pakistan.