India & Pakistan in bed together

[Mister Wright]

India-Pakistan team might take on World XI

Wisden Cricinfo staff

August 5, 2004

A plan has been mooted to organise a series between a combined India-Pakistan XI and the Rest of the World. The matches, which would be jointly organised by the Citizens Council for a Better Tomorrow (CCBT) and 9 Yards Sports & Entertainment, is likely to comprise four one-dayers played around the world, in Mumbai, Kolkata, Manchester and Lahore.

The organisers hope that the series can be held either late this year or in the beginning of 2005. The two main stumbling blocks, which are yet to be overcome, are the permission from the respective cricket boards - quite apart from the go-ahead from the International Cricket Council - and squeezing the series into the packed international calendar.

However, Sanjay Jha of 9 Yards Sports & Entertainment was confident of overcoming these hurdles. The Indian Express quoted him as saying: "We are confident that the respective boards will give the green signal as we want to have the matches either in September this year, after the Champions Trophy, or January when the players will be free from their commitments to their respective countries.

"Though the players including Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, who will turn out for the Rest of the World, have agreed to play, we are still to get permission from the ICC and respective cricket boards."

Jha also confirmed that this will be called the Sadbhavana [meaning Goodwill] series. With the cream of international talent set to be on show, this event, if held, is definitely a mouthwatering prospect.

© Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

Article found here

 

[Langeveldt]

I doubt India and Pakistan could actually have *** though...

 

[masterblaster]

As I said before,

*Yawn*, another novelty series.

 

[Mister Wright]

As I said before,

*Yawn*, another novelty series.

Yes. Or you could look at it this way: It is a sad inditement (sp) on today's game, that to make cricket more interesting they have to come up with these novelty series.

 

[masterblaster]

Yeah, I mean one is fine, but repeated novelty series just bores everybody.

And all this India/Pakistan Goodwill just doesn't seem as genuine to me. Both nations have always had a history of sucking up to one another, and then in a few months want to end just about every link (sporting, transport, economic) that they share.

Also too much India/Pakistan makes the occasion bland, doesn't it?
They could've had Australia/India/South Africa in Holland or Australia/Pakistan/South Africa.

India just went to Pakistan, then they played them during the Asia Cup, then they're playing them in Holland, then they're playing them in the Champions Trophy.

Its either nothing, or complete overkill.

I guess that's what bothers me.

 

[delkap]

I dont think this will go ahead though, BCCI seems unlikely to release its players for non-ICC games .. hv a look at cricinfo : http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/AUG/016718_IND_05AUG2004.html

 

[marc71178]

As I said in the other thread - this is just 9 Yards Sports & Entertainment getting cheap publicity.

The ICC won't back it.
The BCCI won't back it.

And an ODI in January in Manchester, when the weather is bad enough for Football to postponed?!

 

[lord_of_darkness]

its just like marc said.. another thing to get people excited for nothin..

 

[NikhilN]

meh...do a search next time...thread already have been made