New ICC President Zaheer Abbas ranks resumption of India-Pakistan cricket ties as top agenda

Zaheer Abbas succeeds Mustafa Kamal, the Bangladeshi ICC President who resigned after the 2015 World Cup

Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas, the newly elected ICC President, stressed that reviving India-Pakistan bilateral tours would be one of his top priorities in his new post. He also said that resumption of India-Pakistan cricket ties would be good for the global image of the sport, apart from rightfully rekindling one of the most popular rivalries in the sport’s history.

He said, “Being in a ceremonial post does not mean I can’t do anything. I love this game and in the next one year I want to contribute something to world cricket.

“I want to play a role in helping revive Indo-Pak cricket matches because the people of both countries want for matches to take place and having regular bilateral ties is also necessary for the sport’s global image.”

India-Pakistan cricket will help both countries and the sport itself: Abbas

Abbas suggested that the political situation is the only impediment for India-Pakistan cricket matches, and not broadcasting issues, as had been thought earlier.

“I know it is not an easy task because Indo-Pak cricket ties are ruled by political relations between the two countries. But I want to do something in this direction because if we have regular bilateral ties it is good for players and people of both countries,” he added.

“Having India and Pakistan matches is something close to my heart and I will do my best to make it happen. Cricket has to be globalised further and it should become popular in many more countries,”

Zaheer Abbas, once known as the Asian Bradman, is the only cricketer from the continent to have scored 100 first class centuries.