Kamran Akmal Urges Jay Shah to Embrace Global Role as ICC Chairman
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Mumbai, Nov 30 (NationPress) As he prepares to assume the position of chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has urged Jay Shah to prioritize global interests over just India. Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is set to take over as ICC Chairman from Greg Barclay on December 1, and Akmal emphasized the importance of him acting as the head of the global body rather than focusing solely on India's interests.
"Jay Shah must unite all member nations and not solely consider India's perspective. His term will be demanding as his decisions will shape the global body, and he may face backlash if he shows favoritism towards India," Akmal remarked in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport.
Akmal expressed that during his term, the ICC should strive to find a permanent resolution to the ongoing issues between nations.
He claimed that the current Indian government's policies are heavily influenced by an anti-Pakistan sentiment. The Indian government has stated its opposition to bilateral cricket with Pakistan until it ceases its support for terrorism within India.
"India consistently intertwines politics with sports, and this current administration holds an anti-Pakistan viewpoint. The Indian government should reassess its position, as cricketing ties are essential for normalizing relations," he stated in the interview.
Akmal is optimistic that a political solution could be reached, as the two nations have not engaged in bilateral series since Pakistan visited India for three ODIs and two T20Is in December 2012.
"Pakistan has been successfully hosting international teams. In the last two years, we have welcomed England, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa to our shores. Security should not be a concern. We provide all visiting teams with top-notch security, and the Indian team could receive additional safety measures. The BCCI must assure their government that foolproof security will be provided," he explained.
Having participated in numerous tours to India and played in the Indian Premier League, Akmal noted that player relationships are friendly. "We are friends and often reminisce about past tours. All players desire to see India and Pakistan play against each other and visit one another's countries. Recently, we had a Legends Cup in the UK, where we spent hours discussing cricket. I remain in contact with Gautam Gambhir (the current head coach of the Indian team), and he is very amicable. We all yearn for Indo-Pak cricket."
The former wicketkeeper still holds out hope that India will reconsider its strict position against touring Pakistan. "I remain hopeful. I would be overjoyed if the Indian team played matches in my city, Lahore. Pakistani fans have not had the chance to see Virat Kohli play in Pakistan. They want to witness Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah in action," he added.
However, this prospect seems unlikely in the near future, as the BCCI has informed the ICC that it has not received approval from the Indian government to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, leaving uncertainty surrounding the event.
