Waqar wants India to play Pakistan in UAE

Published: April 26, 2009

DUBAI (AFP) - Famed paceman Waqar Younis Saturday said Pakistan should play arch-rivals India in the neutral venues of the United Arab Emirates after political tensions put home fixtures on hold.
Last year New Delhi refused to clear its national team's tour to Pakistan in the wake of the attacks on Mumbai, which India blamed on militants based across the border.
Waqar, who is a television commentator for Pakistan's offshore series against Australia here, said the UAE could host the matches.
"I think it (India playing Pakistan) is going to happen sooner or later because if you are not going to play in Pakistan we have to play somewhere else and so this is the place," Waqar told AFP.
The Indian team had been due to play three Tests and five one-day matches in Pakistan in January-February this year, which were called off.
Now Waqar says he fears there may be no bilateral series in India or Pakistan.
"I don't think Pakistan will be travelling to India in the near future nor India will be touring Pakistan and so this is the place and I see this as the home ground (for Pakistan) in the near future," said Waqar, who played 87 Tests and 262 one-day matches for Pakistan.

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