Pakistan batsman Younis Khan wants his country and India to set aside their differences and resume five-day matches ahead of the second Test against West Indies, starting in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Here’s what he has to say:
‘Two giants of the game’
“It’s my wish to play a Test in Pakistan again, play against India and against all top teams,” Younis said yesterday. “India and Pakistan are two giants of cricket – one No 1 and the other No 2 – so whatever the situation between the two nations, it must be forgotten and cricket should be played, people want to watch them play.”
Background
There has been no Test cricket between the two nations since 2007. Bilateral ties were severed in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which New Delhi blamed on militants based in Pakistan. Pakistan did tour India in 2012/13 for a limited-overs series, but that failed to revive full ties. The two countries have come close to war since last month’s attacks on a military base in Indian-administered Kashmir, again blamed on militants from Pakistan.
BCCI against ties
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has repeatedly snubbed Pakistan’s calls for resumption of ties in the current scenario, and Younis said the situation was deplorable. “Whenever we play India people watch the game with unmatched interest and the game gets good promotion in the region. It should be played and played regularly,” Younis said.
Pakistan good for Tests
Younis, who returns in the second Test against West Indies after missing the first game in Dubai as he was recovering from dengue fever, said Pakistan’s good showing in Tests have increased support for the five-day format. “People now talk about us as a Test team and people who used to stay away from Tests are now coming back,” he said.
Personal landmark
Pakistan’s top run-getter in Tests with 9,456, Younis hopes he gets to 10,000 runs in the near future. “I never go after records,” he said. “It’s my wish to be in that elite group of 10,000 runs because there is no Pakistani in that group.”
* Agence France-Presse
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