Iqbal wants legends to cross borders

Legendary cricketers can perform the role of sporting ambassadors between Pakistan and India, according to Asif Iqbal, former captain of Pakistan.

"I think there should be tours of sporting ambassadors to Pakistan and India which can pave the way for a revival of cricket between the two neighbours who have so many things in common," he said. "The likes of Hanif Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas and Imran Khan should tour India and take feedback from people, and India's Sunil Gavaskar, Bishen Bedi and Kapil Dev should come to Pakistan..."

Iqbal himself was born in India, and made his first-class debut for Hyderabad in 1959 before migrating to Pakistan in 1962.

India's Minister for Sports, Vikram Verma, had recently announced that two one-day games on a home-and-away basis could be played in September.

It's now 13 years since India made a full Test tour of Pakistan, which has prompted many old-timers to recall the 17-year freeze that existed from 1961 to 1978.