BENGALURU: BCCI president Roger Binny on Saturday confirmed that he would travel to Pakistan during the Asia Cup next month on invitation from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
PCB management committee chairman Muhammad Zaka Ashraf had earlier this month officially invited the Indian cricket board chief and his spouse to attend the Asia Cup matches in Pakistan and the PCB dinner in Lahore on Sep 4.
Speaking to TOI, Binny said, “BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla and I will travel to Pakistan through the Wagah Border on September 4. Apart from the official dinner, we will also witness a couple of matches.” They will return to India on September 7.
This is the first visit of a BCCI president to the neighbouring country after India severed bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
1/10:Top-5: Century makers in the Asia Cup 2018
2/10:Shikhar Dhawan (India)
<p>The veteran opener of India, Shikhar Dhawan tops the list. Dhawan had a memorable outing in the 2018 edition, where he was the highest run-getter in the tournament.</p>
3/10:Shikhar Dhawan (India)
<p>Apart from that, he was the only batter to score two centuries in that tournament. Dhawan scored 127 against Hong Kong and 114 against Pakistan.</p>
4/10:Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan)
<p>The swashbuckling Afghan batter burst into the scenes when he trashed the strong Indian bowling line-up and scored a sensational hundred.</p>
5/10:Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan)
<p>It was the only century that he made in that tournament. Shahzad ended up scoring 124 off 116 balls in that match.</p>
6/10:Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
<p>Bangladesh’s veteran wicket-keeping batter, Mushfiqur Rahim scored a match-winning century against Sri Lanka in the opening game of the 2018 edition. </p>
7/10:Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
<p>Rahim ended up scoring the highest individual score of the tournament – 144 off 150 balls.</p>
8/10:Rohit Sharma (India)
<p>The Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma too had a stellar tournament. Under his leadership, India won that tournament by defeating Bangladesh in a thrilling final.</p>
9/10:Rohit Sharma (India)
<p>Rohit was the second-highest run-getter in the tournament and scored 111 not out against Pakistan.</p>
10/10:Litton Das (Bangladesh)
<p>Bangladesh’s sensational batter, Litton Das lit up the final of the 2018 Asia Cup, where he scored a brilliant hundred against India.</p>It comes at a time when Pakistan have agreed to send their team to India for the ICC ODI World Cup beginning next month. Before heading to Pakistan, Binny will fly to Sri Lanka for India’s opener against Pakistan in Pallekele on September 2.
When asked by the board if he would accept the invitation, Binny said he had no hesitation.
“Because my previous travels to Pakistan have been very pleasant. They are very hospitable. I remember the stores we went to in the 1980s, the shop owners were excited to host Indians. We were offered tea at every store we visited,” the former all-rounder recounted.
1/9:IND vs BAN ODIs: Top-5 leading wicket-takers in Asia Cup
2/9:Ravindra Jadeja (India): 6 wickets
<p>While primarily known for his all-round abilities, Ravindra Jadeja has also made crucial breakthroughs with his left-arm spin. Against Bangladesh, Jadeja had a great outing with the ball.</p>Getty Images
3/9:Ravindra Jadeja (India): 6 wickets
<p>In 5 matches against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, Jadeja scalped 6 wickets at an ER of 3.90 with the best bowling figure of 4/29.</p>Getty Images
4/9:Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh): 6 wickets
<p>Mashrafe Mortaza was known for his leadership and bowling skills. He was a key figure in the Bangladesh cricket team, particularly in limited-overs formats. His ability to swing the ball and his experience in crunch situations has made him the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.</p>
5/9:Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh): 6 wickets
<p>In 6 matches against India, Mortaza scalped 6 wickets at an ER of 5.03 with the best bowling figure of 2/37.</p>
6/9:Sachin Tendulkar (India): 6 wickets
<p>A surprising name on this list, Sachin was known for his legendary batting but against Bangladesh, he is among the wickets on this list. In 6 matches against Bangladesh in Asia Cup, Tendulkar scalped 6 wickets at an ER of 4 with the best bowling figure of 3/35.</p>
7/9:Virender Sehwag (India): 5 wickets
<p>Another interesting name on this list, Virender Sehwag is 4th on this list. In a couple of matches against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, Sehwag picked 5 wickets at an ER of 3.82 with the best bowling figure of 4/6.</p>
8/9:Jasprit Bumrah (India): 4 wickets
<p>Bumrah is known for his unorthodox action and the ability to bowl accurate Yorkers at the death overs. He has been a crucial wicket-taker for India in ODIs, and his performances against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup have been noteworthy.</p>Getty Images
9/9:Jasprit Bumrah (India): 4 wickets
<p>In a couple of games against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, Bumrah scalped 4 wickets at an ER of 4.30 with the best bowling figure of 3/37.</p>Getty ImagesAfter India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka were roped in as co-hosts with only four of the 13 matches scheduled in Pakistan with Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh playing a match each. The fourth fixture is a Super Four tie. Binny last visited Pakistan in 2005, as part of a pace camp conducted by the Asian Cricket Council.
As a player, he was part of a team led by Mohinder Amarnath that played in Pakistan in 1984.
The series was abandoned during the second ODI at Sialkot on October 31, following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Binny pointed out that the visit augurs well for the cricket ties between the two nations.
“The India-Pakistan rivalry is the fiercest and most followed in world cricket. It is even bigger than the Ashes. Matches between the two countries are good for the sport and its popularity,” he added.
