Welcoming moves to resume cricketing ties between India and Pakistan at the junior level, the International Cricket Council on Tuesday urged political leaders in both the countries to assist in renewing cricketing ties rather than using the game for "political purpose".
"The resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan at the Under-19 and 'A' levels is a welcome step along the path of resuming full cricketing contact between the two countries," ICC president Ehsan Mani said in a statement.
Mani hoped that this initiative would lead to the resumption of full international cricket between the two countries.
"The announcement that these two powerful cricketing nations will again meet on the field, albeit at a level below full international status, is a welcome step along the path to the resumption of full cricketing ties.
"When these two teams met in the World Cup the passion that the match generated and its ability to have a positive impact on people in both nations was apparent," he said.
With BCCI waiting for the government's response to its proposal to play one-day internationals with Pakistan this September, Mani urged leaders of both the countries not to use the game for political ends.
"Cricket, like all sport, has the capacity to promote understanding and generate goodwill and I would urge the political leaders in both countries to allow the game of cricket to assist in building relations between these two nations rather than being used for a political purpose."
