Pakistan pitches for reviving cricketing ties

New Delhi, July 5 : Pakistan Thursday pitched for resuming bilateral cricket ties with India but New Delhi maintained it was for the two boards to decide.

During their two-day talks here, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani discussed enhancing sports exchanges and revival of cricketing ties among the cluster of other issues.

Expressing the hope that the equation would continue with the "positive trajectory", Jilani said that he had put forward some suggestions on the issue.

Addressing a joint press conference, Mathai said there were issues of security.

"As for the resumption of cricketing ties, this is really a matter for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). There are issues of security as well which arise. We have both emphasised the need to promote sports and media contacts between the two countries. So, I think we will leave it there for the moment," Mathai told reporters.

Jilani hoped that things are moving in the right direction on the issue of cricketing ties.

"I had discussion for the revival of cricket ties between the two countries. I think that we will continue with this formative trajectory that we have adopted over the years in moving forward in our relationship," Jilani said.

Bilateral ties between India and Pakistan were put on hold after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. But the two teams played the 2011 World Cup semifinal in Mohali, Punjab.

It was also the first time Pakistan played the nearest to its home soil since it became a prohibited area for international teams following the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.