New Delhi: Former captains of Indian and Pakistani cricket teams, Sourav Ganguly and Inzamam-ul-Haq while speaking at “Aaj Tak Salaam Cricket” conclave on Monday said bilateral cricket between the two neighbours should start at the earliest which will help in improving ties between the two nations. Both captains also said India was favourite to win the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup and that Virat Kohli will play crucial role in ensuring victory of India in the tournament.

“Cricketing series between India and Pakistan should happen…It will be good for cricketing ties between the two nations and it will also help in normalize relations between the two nations. People of both countries want cricket should happen between the two teams, they love the players and love to watch the match. Therefore the matches should happen,” Inzamam said. He refused to comment on former Pakistan capitan Imran Khan that Pakistan should not play T20 world cup match with India in Dharamshala, “There is no security threat to Pakistan team…There has never been security issues, so cricket should happen,” he asserted.

Both the captains remembered Virender Sehwag as India’s most flamboyant opener who used to make bowlers and captains of his rival teams. Recalling India’s success in

Pakistan tour in 2004 as one of greatest moments in Indian cricket, Sourav Ganguly said Sehwag played a key role in it. Ganguly also narrated camaraderie between Indian and Pakistani players and recalled how Inzamam brought two cricket bats for his from Sealkot on special request.

Both Sourav and Inzamam said today’s Indian team was one of the most formidable and strong cricket team. While Sourav said exposure to all cricketing formats was helping in building a strong India team, Inzamam said Pakistani cricket was lagging behind as there was no domestic matches happening and that exposure of young Pakistani players in all formats of cricket was minimal which was affecting growth and development of his country’s cricket.

Inzamam said he would love to play senior cricket league once his commitment towards Afghanistan cricket team gets over where he is helping as a coach. He said he was ready to help Pakistan cricket with his experience.

On Indo-Pak T20 match scheduled for March 19, Inzamam and Sourav agreed that India was favourite to win, though former Pakistan captain said his team can also win his some key players perform well on that day. He said cricketing in Pakistan was suffering due to two main factors – lack of domestic cricket and no T20 exposure. He said T20 league has just started in Pakistan that will help his country build a strong team.