Politics has to be kept out of sport: Misbah -ul-Haq on Indo-Pak ties

KARACHI: Pakistan's Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said that if people want resumption of bilateral cricket ties between Pakistan and India than politics has to be kept out of the sport.

"As a player I would like to play against India. I would want to captain our side against them. But unless politics is kept away from cricket than there can't be a resumption of bilateral ties," Misbah told reporters here.

The long-serving captain despite leading Pakistan since 2010 in Tests, is yet to play in a Test against India although he has captained the side against the arch-rivals in limited over matches but at neutral venues.

India has not played a proper bilateral Test series against Pakistan since 2007 when Misbah toured India with the national side.

Misbah said that Pakistan had always pushed for resumption of bilateral ties but unfortunately the response from India had not been the same.

BCCI President Anurag Thakur's recently said there was no question of playing against Pakistan in the current scenario and that has not gone down well with the Pakistani cricket fans and former players.

Former players have ridiculed the statement by Thakur pointing out that as it is India who had avoided playing against Pakistan in a bilateral series since last nine years.