Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, has hinted that he may play a role in persuading Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy scheduled for next year.
In a recent media interaction in London, Nawaz Sharif advised India to reconsider its stance and send its cricket team to Pakistan for the tournament. He remarked that despite strained relations between the two countries, efforts should be made to improve them.
“India should send its team to Pakistan,” Nawaz stated, adding that the Pakistani public is eager to see the Indian team play on Pakistani soil. He emphasized that if relations are tense, both sides should work to restore them.
According to sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has contacted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to play a key role in reviving Pak-India cricket ties. The PCB hopes to persuade the Indian government to send its team to the Champions Trophy. There are indications that PM Shehbaz may seek the assistance of his elder brother, Nawaz Sharif, given his longstanding relationship with PM Modi.
During Nawaz Sharif’s tenure as prime minister, Modi made a private visit to Nawaz’s residence in Lahore, highlighting their personal ties. Nawaz has always advocated for peaceful and friendly relations with India, and any diplomatic efforts he undertakes are likely to be hard for PM Modi to dismiss.
In addition to his comments on cricket, Nawaz Sharif also spoke about the broader need for positive international relations. He expressed his support for good ties between Pakistan and the United States, particularly during the tenure of the next U.S. president Donald Trump. He stressed the importance of improving relations with all neighboring countries to ensure regional stability and prosperity.
On a different note, Nawaz Sharif condemned the recent attack on former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s car in London. He described the incident as part of an unfortunate culture of disrespect, which, he claimed, was fostered by opposition parties during their time in power and continues to persist.
Nawaz further criticized the use of youth to engage in disruptive behavior, such as chasing cars and creating disturbances. He called for protests to be more dignified, stressing the importance of respect in political discourse.
