Imran calls for resumpion of Indo-Pak cricket

Contradicting president Pervez Musharraf, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan said that cricket was not just a trivial issue between India and Pakistan, and that thawing relations between the two countries created a favourable atmosphere for cricketing ties to resume.

"If there is animosity between the two countries, then cricket plays a divisive role. It further accentuates the animosity. And if the relationship is cordial or getting closer, then cricket plays a cementing part," said Imran in an interview to Worldview India, which will be telecast on Doordarshan.

"You see, if there is tension - for instance, as it was after Kargil - then cricket would have made it worse. Because then cricket becomes the battlefield, and the supporters then are at each other's throats," said Imran. "I think because there is a perception in the public that a dialogue is starting, there is a first step forward. So once you go in that direction, cricket is going to help."

"There seems to be light at the end of tunnel right now, so I think cricket helps. It is going to cement more. I am all for it. I think it is time to resume cricketing ties," Imran added.

Although he emphasised that he had never received as affectionate a response as in India during his first tour, Imran said that an India-Pakistan match is "a war. It is a friendly war if the countries are friendly and it gets quite hostile if there is hostility between the two countries."