World wants to see India-Pakistan play: Saqlain Mushtaq

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan spin legend Saqlain Mushtaq, believes that the rival of Indo-Pak cricket series will be great as the entire world wants to see India and Pakistan play for the sheer passion the players show.

There are talks that Indo-Pak cricket could be revived with India hosting a series in February-March 2012.

"I personally feel that India and Pakistan should start a series on the lines of Ashes. But lets wait for the ties to resume first," Mushtaq said.

Talking about Indian team's performance on the England tour, Mushtaq said, 'It was the failure of the team and you cannot just blame the spinners. You didn't have runs on the board and, in such scenario, the spinners cant gamble".

"The conditions were pacer-friendly and, as one saw, it was the pacers who did the trick for the hosts. So I don't think it would be right to blame the spinners alone," Mushtaq told a website in an interview.

Mushtaq said that he thinks India's performance in England was an overall failure and no specific department should be blamed.

"The injuries made things worse for India as they could not field a full-strength. I am sure that if India did not have injury problems, the outcome would have been different. In fact, I am sure that things will be different when England visits India next month. India should have all their players fit and the conditions will also favour them," he said.

Mushtaq said that things would be different when England tour India next month.

"India needs to take a serious look at the injury woes. The team management should try and get the best players fit before England arrives.

"As for the long term, the Indian board should find out whether too much cricket is causing harm to the players. Once they get these things in place, India should be right back up there," he said.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011