Get Well Soon, PCB chief tells extremist Bal Thackeray

By Faisal Adnan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) November 15, 2012: Despite of a hardline approach by the extremist Hindu leader Bal Thackeray, Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf sent him a “Get Well Soon” message on Thursday.

As per the local media reports, the extremist Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray has demanded the Indian government to do away with Pakistan’s tour to India next month

However, PCB chief sent positive vibes through his Get Well Soon message for the hardliner politician who is in struggling in a critical condition in a Mumbai hospital.

Zaka Ashraf told reporters, “I have sent a message of get well soon to Mr. Bal Thackeray. Our religion and our Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) taught us that we should wish everyone good health and life and following that I have wished him well and sent him a bouquet.”

Bal Thackeray and other extremist Hindu activists have been demanding vociferously to cancel the limited overs series between Pakistan and India urging the New Delhi-incumbent Congress-led government to keep away from reviving cricketing ties until Pakistan brings perpetrators of 2008 Mumbai Attacks to justice.

The New Delhi had severed all sporting ties with Pakistan following the deadly attacks which left 166 people killed.

Zaka Ashraf urged Bal Thackeray to play his role in defusing tension between the nuclear-armed bitter neighbors. He said, “I hope that Mr. Thackeray gets well soon and plays his part in bringing the two nations together by supporting both the teams during this series”.

Pakistan is due to play two Twenty20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals during the course of their two weeks long tour to India after a gap of five years.

Pakistan cricket team, which will land in Indian capital on December 22, will take on the home side in first Twenty20 International in Bangalore (Bengaluru) on December 25 followed by the second T20I in Ahmedabad on December 27. The Twenty20 series will be followed by One Day International series which will have both teams featuring three ODIs in Chennai, Kolkata, and New Delhi on December 30, January 3, and January 6, respectively.