Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has welcomed Indian union minister Shashi Tharoor’s suggestion that cricket between the two countries could be organised in a neutral venue like the USA.

Miandad said on Sunday that he would suggest formation of a common cricket council featuring great players from both India and Pakistan to assist the restoration of bilateral cricket ties. “If Tharoor means what he has said then it is a welcome and positive sign coming from an Indian minister because Pakistan has never said no to bilateral cricket ties with India,” Miandad said.

Miandad, who is also PCB’s director-general (Cricket Operations), said that he would love to see both countries playing cricket anywhere, including the USA. Pointing out that the USA has many cricket enthusiasts, minister of state for external affairs Tharoor on Saturday hoped that an Indo-Pak cricket series would well be appreciated by the public in the United States.

Miandad also felt that it was time the two boards formed a common council and involve cricket greats like Imran Khan and Sunil Gavaskar to suggest ways of reviving bilateral ties. “Formation of such a common council with former greats would highlight the role of cricket in normalising ties between both countries. It will also ease pressure on the governments and help diffuse the current tension,” Miandad said.

India have banned bilateral tours with Pakistan after the terror incidents in Mumbai last year, but the PCB has been insisting on reviving them at neutral venues. PCB chairman Ejaz Butt is currently visiting India, with sources saying he would call on BCCI officials to discuss the possibility of holding a one-day series next year at a neutral venue, preferably England.

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