Expressing his admiration for top Indian cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf made a strong case for the Indian cricket team to tour Pakistan early next year.
After a meeting with International Cricket Council president Malcolm Gray on Thursday, Musharraf expressed hope that India will resume its cricketing ties with Pakistan with their scheduled visit in 2003, soon after the World Cup.
During his meeting with Gray, Musharraf was quite outspoken about his admiration for some of the top Indian cricketers, especially batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, Pakistan Cricket Board media manager Sami Burni said in Islamabad.
Burni said at his meeting with Gray, which was aimed at making a case for ICC to prevail upon all the top cricketing countries to resume playing Test and one-day cricket in Pakistan, Musharraf also sounded confident that India would permit its team to tour Pakistan.
Burni said that the President's optimism was based on India's decision to permit its large team of athletes to take part in the forthcoming SAF Games to be held in Islamabad early next year.
Musharraf, however, is believed to have told Gray that if the Indian team fails to turn up then Pakistan would not keep its commitment of touring India in 2004.
Musharraf reportedly said that he believes a great deal of goodwill exists between the two countries, as the Pakistan's polo team which visited India recently returned with very happy memories. He said he permitted the polo team to go to India against considerable opposition within Pakistan.
The General said that besides taking part in the SAF Games, India played Pakistan in other sports except cricket.
"Perhaps, India was hesitant as millions of people would watch an India-Pakistan cricket match, more than any other
sport," Musharraf had reportedly said.
According to Burni, Musharraf also discussed with Gray issues relating to security and as well as the ICC crackdown to end match-fixing.
