Ganguly backs BCCI on Pak stand

New Delhi, July 28 

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today backed the BCCI's stance of not resuming bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan until the cross-border terrorism stops.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had requested the BCCI to host a bilateral series in December this year as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two boards to play five series in eight years till 2023.

The BCCI had promised to take up the matter with the Central Government but the latest terror attack prompted BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur to declare that cricket will take a backseat for a while.

“I think the BCCI is correct in saying that terror will have to completely go before play could happen. As human beings, we also want terror to completely go,” said Ganguly.

“So this has always been the case with an India-Pakistan series. As much as we understand that it is an entertaining and high-profile series, we cannot turn a blind eye to terror and people suffering because of it,” he said. “This has been going on for a while. When we went to Pakistan in 2004, I was fortunate enough to be the captain of the side and we won the Test and the ODI series, for the first time in Pakistan. That series happened after 15 years,” the former captain fondly recollected.

Ganguly, 43, is also hopeful that Sreesanth will also get relief from the BCCI, which has till now refused to revoke his life ban.

“I believe he has been absolved of criminal charges. The BCCI gives an opportunity to everyone to come back and play; I think a dialogue would start between the BCCI and Sreesanth,” he said.

“If the board feels that the clearance from the Delhi court is fine, I am sure it will make way for him to come back and play,” hoped Ganguly.

As for the Lankan tour, Ganguly believes the experience of the Australia tour earlier this year will have helped the likes of Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay and others for the upcoming series. “India will do well in the series against Sri Lanka. The away series in Australia last winter should have helped the players. The batsmen should have matured from that tour and it will definitely help them against Sri Lanka, who are a tough team... I expect India to do well,” said Ganguly. — Agencies