INDIA: CRICKET: FORMER CRICKETERS KIRTI AZAD IS SCEPTICAL OF INDIA RESUMING SPORTING LINKS WITH PAKISTAN

Record ID: 1377602

  • Title: INDIA: CRICKET: FORMER CRICKETERS KIRTI AZAD IS SCEPTICAL OF INDIA RESUMING SPORTING LINKS WITH PAKISTAN
  • Date: 22nd October 2003
  • Summary: NEW DELHI (OCTOBER 22, 2003) (ANI) (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN TEST CRICKETER-TURNED-LAWMAKER, KIRTI AZAD SAYING: "If they had to start (sports links) then (in the first place) why was it stopped because there has been nothing from Pakistan's side which should have prompted us to resume them. Regularly, reports of guerrilla violence are coming in from Kashmir. Gazi Baba was shot dead sometime back, recently ten people were held hostage and the terrorists were shot dead. So, frankly speaking, I don't see any reason why it was stopped and if it is being revived then what change in situation prompts this. So I would not like to comment on this development (whether it is a good or bad decision.)" Q- Will it improve our relations? (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN TEST CRICKETER-TURNED-LAWMAKER, KIRTI AZAD SAYING: "We had been playing against them since 1978. We played from 1978 to 1999 for 21 years during which period terrorism had increased. So what is the change in the situation that we need to play them again because we played against them for 21 years, we revived (cricket ties) in 1978 when we toured Pakistan followed by tours from their side, we played in world cup, so what progress is there on the terrorism aspect because of which (cricketing) ties are being resumed. Earlier there were enough talks, OK let's try that again but we'd again reach a deadend over Kashmir. Whatever efforts you make, you are bound to get back to square one." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2005 22:24
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA1CUEYYPWWXVGCE2H7NQ1A4D4Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: India's ex-cricketer sceptical of resuming sports
    ties with Pakistan.

    The Indian government announced the resumption of
    bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan but former
    cricketer-turned-lawmaker Kirti Azad said he failed to
    understand the government's position.

    In an interview in New Delhi on Wednesday (October 22)
    barely hours after the announcement was made, Azad said the
    ground situation remained the same which had prompted India
    to snap sports ties with Pakistan.

    "If they had to start (sports links) then (in the first
    place) why was it stopped because there has been nothing
    from Pakistan's side which should have prompted us to
    resume them. Regularly, reports of guerrilla violence are
    coming in from Kashmir. Gazi Baba was shot dead sometime
    back, recently ten people were held hostage and the
    terrorists were shot dead. So, frankly speaking, I don't
    see any reason why it was stopped and if it is being
    revived then what change in situation prompts this. So I
    would not like to comment on this development (whether it
    is a good or bad decision,)" said Azad.

    Azad said he did not foresee any signifacant change in
    Pakistan's position vis-a-vis terrorism after India's
    latest peace offers.

    "We had been playing against them since 1978. We played
    from 1978 to 1999 for 21 years during which period
    terrorism had increased. So what is the change in the
    situation that we need to play them again because we played
    against them for 21 years, we revived (cricket ties) in
    1978 when we toured Pakistan followed by tours from their
    side, we played in world cup, so what progress is there on
    the terrorism aspect because of which (cricketing) ties are
    being resumed. Earlier there were enough talks, OK let's
    try that again but we'd again reach a deadend over Kashmir.

    Whatever efforts you make, you are bound to get back to
    square one," said Azad.

    New Delhi said on Wednesday it would resume all
    sporting relations with Pakistan, including bilateral
    cricket, which has been suspended since 2000 due to
    tensions over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

    India are scheduled to tour Pakistan in February
    according to the International Cricket Council's calendar.

    The Indian government had denied several pleas by both
    the Indian and Pakistani boards for resumption of
    cricketing ties, but last month cleared their junior team
    to play in Pakistan.

    India last visited Pakistan for a full test series in
    1989-90 and Pakistan's last tour of India was in 1999.

    The two teams, however, met at multi-lateral
    tournaments such as the World Cup in South Africa earlier
    this year.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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