Narendra Modi's Swearing-In: Will Nawaz Sharif Visit Help Revive Indo-Pak Cricket?

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi has briefed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Indo-Pak cricket relations ahead of the Premier's two-day official visit to India. (Read: PCB waiting for ICC meet)

Nawaz Sharif will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister on Monday and is scheduled to later have a meeting with him and the President of India. (Read: India, Pakistan Plan to Play Six Cricket Series Between 2015-2023)

A source aware of the developments said that the Prime Minister had asked for a brief on the state of cricket relations with India from the PCB.

"Najam Sethi briefed him in detail about the existing relations and also about a MOU signed with the Indian cricket board to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2022 with the first one expected to happen next year," a source said. (Also read: Zaka Ashraf denies bookie approaches to Afridi, Akmal)


Pakistan is due to host four of these six bilateral series.

India has not played Pakistan in a full Test bilateral series since 2007, following which the Mumbai terrorist attacks happened in 2008.

Sethi told reporters after the meeting on Sunday that he had also briefed the premier at length about the affairs of the board.

"The meeting with the premier was encouraging," he added.

Sethi confirmed he had briefed the premier on the cricket relations and developments which could help restore bilateral matches between the two countries.

Nawaz Sharif, himself a known keen cricket enthusiast, on assuming power last year had spoken publicly about the need to use cricket to improve relations between the two nations.

Zaheer Abbas, who is principal advisor to Sethi, said the meeting was a good sign.

"Sethi sahab is trying his level best to restore bilateral series and he has also established a good rapport with the Indian board officials," Abbas said.

"PM Nawaz Sharif agreed on the proposal for holding elections in the board at the earliest," Sethi said and added that the Premier would give approval of the PCB constitution after returning from India.