Wasim Akram calls on PM Narendra Modi to revive India-Pakistan ties

Akram asks Modi to revive Indo-Pak

Legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revive ties between India and Pakistan which have been at an all time low and the cricketing boycott was hurting fans across the globe, reported Times of India.

Pakistan have been waiting for a clearance for a full series from the Indian government since 2007, and India is due to play a series this December against Pakistan in UAE. Sharayar Khan the PCB chairman also gave a strict warning of boycotting India from all major ICC events if the December series failed to go through.

India called off most sporting against Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were planned by Pakistani militants though India did play an ODI series in 2012.

Firing across the disputed territory of Kashmir and recent cross-border tensions have put the tour in further doubt, as security concerns loom large, but Akram said he was hopeful Modi would give it the green light for the forthcoming series.

"I request Prime Minister Modi to clear the tour," Akram said. "I heard that he told his cabinet that he doesn't have any problems in playing sports with Pakistan so cricket should flourish.”

Considered one of the best left-arm pacers in history, Akram said that when he sees Modi trying to make India a superpower they should also help others around them become a better nation.

"What I have noticed is that PM Modi is striving to make India a superpower and they are cricketing superpower so they have a duty to look around the world and cooperate in others' progress so I am sure he will okay the series," he said.

Akram also said that India versus Pakistan fixtures were an integral part of the cricketing world and the loss was hurting the game.

"It's the loss for the cricketing world which has a small base. India-Pakistan is the ultimate contest and I grew up dreaming to feature in an India-Pakistan match," he added.

The former Pakistan captain fondly recalled his side's win over India during Pakistan’s tour of India 1999, when Pakistan beat India in two of the three Test matches.

"We went to India under severe threats but what happened to us there is history. We were accorded a warm welcome everywhere we went and the love and affection was unbelievable.

"The same thing happened when India toured Pakistan in 2004 and even now when I tour India as a commentator people meet me with great affection and they ask me why are we not playing cricket.

"Billions enjoy Indo-Pak matches and its intensity outmatches every other rivalry as no team wants to lose and no fan wants to see his team lose, so I sincerely hope that everything is set aside and cricketing ties go on uninterrupted."