Younis Khan Calls For The Resumption Of India-Pakistan Bilateral Series

Younis Khan, former Pakistan World Cup winnings captain [2009 T20 World Cup] has called for the resumption of bilateral ties between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Younis Khan went down memory lane and reminisced about the memorable moments during the 2005 Pakistan tour of India.

Younis was at the height of his powers during that 2005 tour. His 267 in Bangalore was instrumental in Pakistan leveling the three-match Test series 1-1. The former captain said that he will never forget the roar from the crowd when the Pakistani team got down from their bus in Kolkata.

“The matches between these two countries have given me some of the best experiences of my career. I will never forget the roar from the crowd when the Pakistan team got down from the bus at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2005,” Younis Khan told Gulf News.

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Younis Khan was a part of a lot of memorable India-Pakistan bilateral series during his playing days

Younis Khan played in an era that saw bilateral relations between India and Pakistan improve substantially. It all started when Sourav Ganguly-led Indian team toured Pakistan in what turned out to be a historic series for the Men in Blue in 2004. In subsequent years, the Indo-Pak series became a norm with Pakistan touring India in 2005 and 2007 while India returning to Pakistan in 2006.

That all changed in 2008 when India was hit by a terror attack in Mumbai. Following the terror attacks, both sides have locked horns in a solitary bilateral series which took place in 2012-13 when Pakistan visited India for two T20Is and three 50-over fixtures.

Since then, the arch-rivals have only met in ICC events (World Cup, T20 WC & Champions Trophy) and Asia Cups. And, with the current political turmoil between the two countries, it is highly unlikely that there will be a resumption of bilateral ties in the near future.

Younis Khan is not the first Pakistani cricketer to voice his opinion in favor of the restoration of bilateral ties between India and Pakistan. Last month, Shoaib Akhtar had proposed a three-match charity series between the two countries in a bid to raise COVID-19 funds which led to a war of words between him and former Indian captain Kapil Dev.

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