Oct 23 (emirates247): Misbah ul Haq made a passionate plea for the revival of cricket between India and Pakistan urging people of both nations to stop playing politics with sports.
"It's not about Pakistan or India. Wherever it happens its always disappointing because I believe totally politics should be separated from cricket," said the Pakistan skipper on the eve of the second Test against England in Dubai.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan was due to meet Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Shashank Manohar on Monday but the meeting was cancelled after far-right activists stormed the Mumbai office in protest at the dialogue.
"It's a sport (cricket) so we should deal it like a sport. We have to show sporting spirit and just let the cricket go. Otherwise it will be difficult for all the nations who have been playing this game and we really face some problems to play with each other," said Misbah expressing disappointed that Australia scrapped their tour of Bangladesh because of security concerns.
"Australia haven't toured Bangladesh that was also a disappointment. As a cricketer we want to play each other and we don't want any sort of politics involved in this sport," said the veteran batsman who is expected to make a decision about his future at the end of the England series.
Former Pakistan paceman Aaqib Javed and World Cup winner also echoed of the thoughts of many by urging the two countries to set aside differences for the sake of cricket fans.
"I think it should be done because it is larger than Ashes. Politicians you understand but play your politics but let the people enjoy the game," said UAE's coach Javed.
India and Pakistan have not played a full series since 2007 after New Delhi halted all bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan following the 2008 attacks in Mumbai.
Pakistan did tour India for two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals in December 2012 but even that tour failed to revive the full series.
The arch-rivals, however, signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which they agreed to play six series between 2015-2023, all pending clearance from the two governments.
The first of that series comprising of two Tests, five one-day and two Twenty20s is scheduled for December and January in the UAE.