BCCI President Roger Binny and Vice-President Rajeev Shukla made history on Monday as they became the first senior BCCI office-bearers to visit Pakistan in 17 years. The two officials crossed the Attari-Wagah border and arrived in Lahore to honor the Pakistan Cricket Board’s invitation to watch the Asia Cup. This visit marks a significant step towards improving cricketing relations between the two neighboring countries.
The last time an Indian cricket team traveled to Pakistan was in 2008 for the Asia Cup. Since then, political tensions have strained bilateral cricketing relations. Pakistan last hosted India for a bilateral series in 2006, which makes Binny and Shukla’s visit all the more momentous.
Initially, the BCCI had refused to send its team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, leading to a bi-nation ‘Hybrid Model’ arrangement. However, in a positive gesture, the BCCI approved the participation of former Test player Binny and Congressman Shukla in a dinner hosted by the Governor of Punjab province in Pakistan.
Binny and Shukla emphasized that this visit is solely focused on cricket and should not be mixed with politics. They highlighted that Pakistan is hosting the Asia Cup, and it is a sporting event that should bring the participating teams together. The Governor of Punjab hosted the dinner, attended by representatives from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Rajeev Shukla, who has been associated with the Indian cricket board for over two decades, was also part of the BCCI delegation that visited Pakistan for the historic ‘Friendship Series’ in 2004. He expressed his optimism about the resumption of bilateral cricketing contests but stated that the final decision lies with the Indian government.
Roger Binny recalled his last visit to Pakistan, which was more than 16 years ago when he was part of the Asian Cricket Council. He praised the hospitality of Pakistan and acknowledged that they were treated very well during their previous visit.
This visit by BCCI officials to Pakistan marks a significant step towards normalizing cricketing relations between the two countries. It signifies the importance of sports in fostering peace and goodwill. While the resumption of bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan is still uncertain, such gestures pave the way for future collaborations and opportunities for cricketing exchanges.
Original Source: [Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/bcci-president-roger-binny-and-vice-president-rajeev-shukla-to-visit-lahore-for-asia-cup-8909758/)
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