Credit goes to Zaka Ashraf for resuming cricketing ties with India: Basit Ali

Karachi, July 18 (ANI): Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has credited PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf for resumption of cricketing ties with India.

The respective cricket boards have announced the resumption of cricketing ties between Pakistan and India, with the teams due to contest three ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals in December and January.

Ali said: "It's a happy occasion that Pakistan and India will play matches and credit goes to Zaka Ashraf for the resumption of ties between Pakistan and India.

"He has worked extremely hard to repair the damage done by his predecessor Ijaz Butt. Zaka Ashraf 's business background has obviously played a part in the professional manner in which he has tackled the many issues facing Pakistani cricket, which is exactly what was required."

Ali believed the matches between Pakistan and India can have a broader impact on the return of international cricket to Pakistan.

"If the series goes ahead, it will go some way to rebuilding relations. If we are able to form a strong relationship with India, a high profile series will bring publicity. This can only have a positive impact on the aim of bringing international cricket back to Pakistan, particularly given India dominates world cricket," he said.

Despite winning the Asia Cup, the Pakistani ODI team has a poor record in 2012, having won only five of the fourteen matches played to date.

Pakistan's next assignment is the limited overs series against Australia in the UAE. The ODI series starts in Sharjah on August 28, and the first T20 to be played in Dubai on September 5. (ANI)