The Dubai cricket chief offers to host a bilateral series between Pakistan and India
DUBAI: Dubai Cricket Council Chairman Abdul Rahman Falaknaz has offered to host a bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India - almost a month after arch-rivals played an ICC T20 World Cup game at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. claimed by Australia, three venues - Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi - were played in the United Arab Emirates, while some of the preliminary round matches were played in Oman.
“The best thing would be to get India-Pakistan games here. When Sharjah hosted India and Pakistan all those years ago it was like a war. But it was a good war, it was a sporting war and it was fantastic, ”Falaknaz was quoted as saying by the Khaleej Times. Due to political tension, Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket series since 2013 when the Green Shirts visited. India plays three T20s and two One Day Internationals.
“I remember [Bollywood actor] Raj Kapoor once came with his family. During the award ceremony, he took the microphone and said, “How wonderful it is to have these battles between India and Pakistan in Sharjah. Cricket brings people together, cricket brought us together and lets us stay that way, '”recalls the DCC boss. If we can convince India to play Pakistan here once or twice a year, that would be fantastic. "
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The DCC boss also expressed his willingness to host more Indian Premier League (IPL) games in the future. “When they relocated the IPL to the UAE in 2014 due to elections, we gave them a warm welcome. It all depends on the BCCI to decide what to do, ”recalled Falaknaz.
“We are very friends with them,” he said, adding that the BCCI “saw our potential in 2014 and beyond this year. In 2014 they played 20 games. Of the 20 matches, 19 were completely sold. I would invite BCCI to host their IPL matches. Even if it's part of IPL to start here and end in India or start in India and end in Dubai, ”he suggested.