Pakistan's cricket captain Shoaib Malik Tuesday called for India's tour of his country to go ahead, saying that "cricket diplomacy" would ease tension between the two South Asian neighbors.
Malik made the remarks amid reports that India will cancel its upcoming Pakistani tour after accusations that the terrorists that killed 172 people in Mumbai came from Pakistan.
"If we play cricket matches then the people of both countries will have a chance to divert their attention and the situation will definitely improve. Cricket diplomacy has helped in the past as well in the same manner," Malik told reporters in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.
India is due to play a side game, three tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match on in the January-February tour of Pakistan next year.
Before the attacks, India's Board of Control for Cricket was awaiting security clearance from its government to go on the tour.
As tensions grow between the two countries after the Mumbai attacks, reports have emerged in the Indian media that the matches will be canceled.
The private Geo TV quoted Malik as saying that cricket was the sub-continent's biggest passion and listed past examples of how the sport has brought India and Pakistan closer.
Source:Xinhua
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