‘Not wrong to play Pak but BCCI must respect govt’

There is nothing wrong in playing cricket with Pakistan, feels former India wicketkeeper-batsman Syed Kirmani but he concedes that the BCCI cannot bypass the government and has to respect whatever it decides depending on the political scenario between the two countries.

India and Pakistan were supposed to play a bilateral series this month but the planned rubber did not go ahead after the Indian government withheld permission for it.

Kirmani said despite being an autonomous body, the BCCI should respect the government’s stand.

“According to me, there is nothing is wrong playing against Pakistan, but looking into the political scenario, the ICC and BCCI wouldn’t like to go against the government as well. They are autonomous bodies but we have got to respect what the government says,” he said in an exclusive interview here.

BCCI is awaiting the Indian government’s permission for playing against the arch-rivals. The BCCI and the PCB had signed an MoU last year under which the two countries agreed to play a total of six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

India has not played a full bilateral Test series with Pakistan since the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008. Nevertheless, Kirmani said he is looking forward to improved political relationship between India and Pakistan.