The topic of India playing cricket matches in Pakistan has been a contentious issue for years, with the Indian government’s stance making it difficult for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to make any decisions.

Recently, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi spoke out about his desire for India to take the first step and come play in Pakistan.

 

While the BCCI has stated that they do not have permission from their government to go to Pakistan and play, Sethi believes that India needs to melt the ice from their side as well and come to Pakistan to play, just as Pakistan has gone to India in the past. According to him, “India should come to Pakistan and Pakistan should go to India to play.”

 

Sethi’s comments came during a press conference along with Mickey Arthur, the coach of the Pakistani cricket team. They both discussed the importance of selecting top coaches to play with top teams at an international level. Sethi stressed that professionalism is affected when recommendations are made, and the work of a coach at the international level is to strengthen mentally. He revealed that discussions were going on with Arthur regarding the coaching panel for four months and that he trusts Arthur completely.

 

Under Arthur’s coaching, Pakistan won the 2017 Champions Trophy, which was a significant moment for the team. Sethi hopes for more success in the future, but for that to happen, both countries need to take steps toward reconciliation and working together in the field of cricket. He questioned what reason India has to not play against Pakistan, aside from not having permission from their government.

 

The BCCI has not yet made any official statement regarding Sethi’s comments or their plans for cricket matches in Pakistan. However, they have previously expressed concerns over the security situation in Pakistan, which has often been a factor in their decision-making process. Sethi addressed this issue by saying that the security in Pakistan is excellent.

 

Sethi also mentioned that Morne Morkel, a former South African cricketer, will join Pakistan as a bowling coach after the Indian Premier League (IPL). He emphasized the importance of having foreign coaches, whose environment is very professional, work with the team to improve their performance.

 

In terms of upcoming tournaments, Sethi said that they were being told to play the Asia Cup at a neutral venue and that Pakistan and India should go to play the World Cup. He believes that both countries need to take steps toward improving relations, and he hopes that India will come to Pakistan and play soon. However, the BCCI has stated that they do not know what their government’s stance will be until the World Cup comes.

 

In conclusion, while Najam Sethi’s comments on India playing cricket matches in Pakistan have been met with mixed reactions, his message is clear: for cricket to flourish in the region, both countries need to take steps towards reconciliation and working together. The ball is now in India’s court to decide whether they will take the first step towards better relations through cricket.