India-Pakistan cricket matches must go on, says Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya is one of the finest cricketers Sri Lanka has ever produced

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya feels that International ties between India and Pakistan must go on irrespective of the political tension existing between the nations. Recent activities over the span of a month have taken the two Asian countries aback, and cricket matches between India and Pakistan is now nothing less than a distant possibility in the near future.

Previously, the President of BCCI, Anurag Thakur had also requested unofficially to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that India and Pakistan should not be placed in the same group even in major tournaments till the situation stabilises. Yet, some cricketers Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal have expressed that Indo-Pak Cricket ties must not dry up.

According to reports in The Times of India, Sanath Jayasuriya said, “As a cricketer, I feel that the cricket must go on. I can’t comment on the issues between the two countries. Cricket is different and politics is different.”

Terrorism is a growing concern for people around the world and the Lankan great feels it should be ‘condemned.’ Regarding the matter, he said, “I am a sportsman and I don’t know what to say on this. However, it should be condemned.”

The southpaw is one of the greatest ODI players the world has ever seen and contributed equally with the bat and the ball. Having played 443 One-Day Internationals, he has scored 13430 runs and taken 323 wickets. Surprisingly for the first half of his career, Jayasuriya was considered a bowler who could bat a bit, but as the years passed by he became one of the most destructive batsmen of his era.

Recently serving as Sri Lanka’s chief selector, the former Lankan skipper admitted that there is no problem with the condition of the pitches in India, “It is the nature of soil and climate, which favours turning wickets in this part of the world. Whenever you go other places like Australia or any other country they prepare wickets according to their conditions,” said Jayasuriya.

Undoubtedly, an India-Pakistan encounter is the most awaited match in the cricketing world. The 2 nations are scheduled to play a One-Day International during the ICC Champions Trophy next year and it will be interesting to see whether more controversies arise regarding the match.

India are currently hosting New Zealand for a full tour, while Pakistan are busy playing against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates.