PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf is confident that thedeath of India's firebrand leader Bal Thackeray will not affect their nationalteam's upcoming tour to India even though the late leader's party has strongly opposedthe revival of bilateral cricket ties.
"I sent a get well message to Bal Thackeray despite hisparty's stance on Indo-Pak cricket relations because I wanted him to get welland support the tour as a senior politician," Ashraf said.
"The good thing is that my get well message producedsome positive reaction in India and I am happy for that."
Ashraf pointed out that he was not expecting the tour to beaffected since Thackeray died a natural death.
"In the past whenever Pakistan has played in Indiatheir government has provided us top security and looked after the team welland that gives us confidence the tour will be held without any problems,"he said.
The Indian government has cleared the tour although Thackeray'sparty strongly opposed reviving bilateral ties with Pakistan after five years.
Asked about accusations made by British writer, Ed Hawkinsin his new book that the 2011 World Cup semi final at Mohali between the twocountries was fixed, the PCB chief said if the writer had any evidence tosupport his claims he should send it to them.
"Anyone can make any claims but without evidence it is uselesstalking about it. If Hawkins has any sort of evidence than we would be thefirst to hold an inquiry ourselves and than ask the ICC to also look into theaccusations," he added.
Meanwhile, to a question Zaka said no candidate was final asyet for the post of national team’s batting coach.
"We need the best man for the position of batting coachkeeping in mind the requirements of modern cricket," he said.
Former Test cricketers Zaheer Abbas, Saleem Malik and Inzamam-ul-Haqare in the run for the said post. But they all have no coaching credentials.
Insiders say some foreigners with required credentials andqualifications from England, South Africa and Australia have also applied for theposition.