Pakistani, Indian cricket officials to meet next week

KOLKATA - In spite of hostile political climate between the arch-rivals, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shahryar Khan is hopeful that a bilateral series with India is still a possibility in December.

Khan, a former diplomat, told NDTV in Kolkata on Thursday that the PCB and Board of Control for Cricket in India officials would discuss the future of the much-anticipated tour during an ICC meeting in Dubai next week.

BCCI officials have gone on record in recent weeks saying that a bilateral series with Pakistan was looking increasingly doubtful. BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said that cricket could not be played in a climate of terror, but Khan said there was still hope.

"We will discuss the tour in Dubai. India are yet to share their plans. We will wait till end of October to make alternative plans," Khan said on the sidelines of a condolence meeting for former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, who died on September 20.

The PCB chairman said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was keen that cricket should go ahead (irrespective of political differences). Several former cricketers are divided on the tour with ex-skipper and coach Javed Miandad saying Pakistan "should not chase" India.

"No we are not chasing India. But we will like to know BCCI's decision by the end of this month so that we can plan ahead," he said, hinting that Pakistan could boycott India at the international level. "It is an option but not the first option," he added.

Shahid Afridi welcomes Ahmed Shehzad as latter opens new innings

LAHORE (Web Desk) – T20 Captain Shahid Afridi on Saturday took probably his last selfie with the opener Ahmed Shahzad befor the latter’s wedding and uploaded it on Twitter.

Ahmed Shehzad is getting married today at a local hotel in Lahore and the T20 captain captured an image with the opener on this occasion just before he opens the most important innings of his life, Dunya News reported.

“Selfie boy! Welcom to the real pavilion”, says Shahid Afridi in his tweet, tagging Ahmed Shehzad.

Afridi even drove Shehzad s car to the hotel, like a good captain.

Don't run after India for cricket, Shahid Afridi

The Pakistan Cricket Board is still waiting for the green light from its Indian counterpart for December's planned test and limited-overs series in the UAE.

 Pakistan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi said on Friday he wants his country's cricket board to stop advocating for a test series against India and concentrate more on persuading other teams to tour Pakistan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is still waiting for the green light from its Indian counterpart for December's planned test and limited-overs series in the UAE.

Both countries' cricket boards have signed an agreement to play at least six times from 2015-2023, but the India board needs its government's approval to revive cricketing ties with Pakistan.

"I don't know why we are pushing for series against India again and again," Afridi told reporters in Lahore during Pakistan's short training camp ahead of next week's limited-overs tour to Zimbabwe. "I don't see any reason to play (against India) if they don't want to play. We have invited them and if they do not want to play then it shouldn't be any worry, we are still happy."

The last time both teams played a test series was in 2007 when Pakistan toured India. Pakistan last hosted India for a test series in 2006.

Pakistan has scheduled Twenty20 internationals against Zimbabwe, England and New Zealand ahead of the World Twenty20 tournament in India next March and April, after which Afridi has said he will quit playing the shortest cricket format. Afridi has already stopped playing ODIs following Pakistan's loss in the quarterfinals of the Cricket World Cup in Australia in March.

Pakistan cricket selectors have included rookie left-arm fast bowler Imran Khan Jr. and offspinner Bilal Asif for the two Twenty20s against Zimbabwe later this month in order to start getting ready for next year's event in India. "The idea is to try out new players and there are number of players who impressed me in National Twenty20 tournament this week," Afridi said.

Imran took 16 wickets in the tournament and played a key role in the final when his Peshawar squad won the trophy over the Karachi side led by Afridi.

Asif took nine wickets in the national tournament.

In May, Zimbabwe became the first Test country to tour Pakistan since 2009, when gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team bus. The Zimbabweans played three ODIs and two Twenty20s in Lahore.

With top-level international cricket a rarity in Pakistan, Afridi said it would have been better if the Pakistan Cricket Board had decided to host next February's inaugural Twenty20 Pakistan Super League at home instead of choosing Doha, Qatar, as the venue.

"It would have been great had it been organised in Pakistan because we were talking about revival of cricket in Pakistan after the tour of Zimbabwe," he said. "Our players would have benefited more had it been organised in Pakistan. I am not worried whether foreign players come or not, but at least the crowd will come and our own youngsters get an opportunity."