Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf has proposed to introduce the Jinnah-Gandhi Trophy to restore bilateral cricket between Pakistan and India.
He said that this could prove to be an excellent effort to promote diplomacy as well as strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Zaka’s Suggestion About Jinnah-Gandhi Trophy
Zakka said that the annual Gandhi-Jinnah Trophy should be introduced like the famous Ashes between Australia and England every year so that the concept of this series would be attractive to the cricket fans of the world.
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However, this proposal faces considerable challenges due to the political tensions between India and Pakistan. The diplomatic ties between the two countries’ governments since 2013 have extended to cricket. Asia Cup 2023 was supposed to be held in Pakistan but due to India’s refusal, had to be held in Sri Lanka. India’s denial also highlights the diplomatic complications.
BCCI’s concerns about player safety and the Indian government’s reluctance to sanction cricket matches in Pakistan pose significant obstacles. These political and security concerns cast doubt on the possibility of a regular bilateral series in the near future.
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Nevertheless, the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad is significant and will transcend political boundaries. Although many challenges still remain in resuming series matches, high-level competitions offer hope and provide a platform for people-to-people contacts. It can also bring occasional diplomatic successes in otherwise strained relations.