Najam Sethi, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee, has called on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take the first step towards normalization of cricketing ties by crossing the border to play in Pakistan. Despite being one of the greatest sporting rivalries, India and Pakistan have not played each other on home soil since 2012 and only meet in multinational tournaments on neutral grounds.
Sethi suggested that India should make the first move by coming to Pakistan to play in the Asia Cup. He also confirmed Mickey Arthur’s appointment as Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team. Arthur will be responsible for formulating and implementing strategies for the upcoming assignments across all formats and will be present with the side for Pakistan’s matches against India in the ACC Asia Cup.
During his previous tenure from 2016 to 2019, Arthur coached Pakistan to No. 1 in Tests and T20Is and helped the side to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Sethi expressed his confidence that Arthur’s experience and knowledge of the current players, structure and system will help him to have an even more successful second term.
The relationship between the two cricket boards has been strained for several years now due to political tensions between the two countries. The last time the two sides played a bilateral series was in 2012-2013 when Pakistan toured India. Since then, there have been several attempts to revive the ties, but none have been successful.
Sethi’s suggestion for India to play in Pakistan for the Asia Cup has not been well-received by some Indian cricket officials who believe that the security situation in Pakistan is not conducive for the Indian cricket team to travel there. In addition, there are also concerns about the safety of Indian cricketers in Pakistan given the strained relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Mickey Arthur’s appointment has been welcomed by Pakistani cricket fans who are hoping that he can lead the team to success once again. During his previous stint as head coach, Arthur led the team to the No. 1 spot in Tests and T20Is and helped them to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. His experience and knowledge of the players, system and structure will be crucial for the team as they prepare for upcoming assignments across all formats.
Najam Sethi’s call for India to make the first move towards normalization of cricketing ties between the two countries by playing in Pakistan has been met with mixed reactions. However, the appointment of Mickey Arthur as Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team has been welcomed by fans who are hoping for a successful second term for the coach.
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