Indian Foreign Secretary Ranajan Mathai said “BCCI and PCB are the ones who decide the cricket ties between the countries although security is a matter of concern”. He added “both the countries try hard to be actively involved with each other when it comes to sports.” adressing the press along with his Pakistani counterpart Abbas Jilani.

“We have emphasized the need to develop and promote sports between both the countries in the joint statement” he said. Jilani said that the progress is in the right direction.

Speaking in a press interaction after a meeting with his Pakistan counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani, Mathai said the two countries strive to be actively involved with each other in the sporting arena.

There was an abeyance in the bilateral cricket between the countries since 2008 after the 26/11 incident though India and Pakistan had come face to face in games such as the World Cup which involved many teams.

PCB had made many efforts to revive the matches between the countries but BCCI had been shirking off the offers by quoting a busy schedule with other international matches.

Pakistan also made desperate attempts to engage India by offering to play on neutral grounds to allay the fear of terrorism in the strife-torn country although the boad has faced financial troubles due to the rebuttal of other International team to play in their country. No international matches were scheduled after the gunfire on the Sri Lankan Players in Lahore, 2009.

AW- Anil