Even as the Indian government sits on its decision to send a Test cricket team across the border, Pakistan has gone on a charm offensive. Over the past 24 hours, President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Rameez Raja and even ICC Chairman Ehsan Mani have all called for resumption of full cricketing ties, saying they will welcome Indian cricketers ‘‘with open arms’’‘‘Leave the past aside. There is no need to bring politics into sports’’, Musharraf said last night at a function organised by the PCB. Reiterating a stand he’s long held, he said: ‘‘Pakistan likes to play India for mutual benefit of the cricketers and cricket itself.His comments came in the wake of the Indian government’s permission to its junior team to tour Pakistan in November. Pakistan welcomed the decision and said it wanted India to permit the senior team to play its scheduled Test and one day fixtures in Pakistan next February.Ehsan Mani, in Munmbai for an ICC meeting, said: ‘‘I am looking forward to the resumption of cricket ties between Pakistan and India. This is what the ICC wants and that’s what the people of both countries want. God willing, that is what will happen.’’His words were echoed by Raja, a former test cricketer and commentator. ‘‘We are desperately looking to host India in Pakistan and the message that I carry from the Pakistan Government and the PCB is that we will provide all facilities and security to the team back home. We will welcome them with open arms.’’Raja insisted that resumption of cricketing relations between the two nations was a must in the interest of both India and Pakistan. ‘‘Cricket has got to progress in our part of the world especially in the sub-continent. If India and Pakistan do not play with each other, cricket will suffer a great deal.’’Evidently happy to be back in Mumbai, a beaming Raja said: ‘‘Fans on either side love to watch Shoaib Akhtar and Sachin Tendulkar in action. Why should they be deprived of the fascinating battle?’’ (with agencies)
