'We should play in each other’s countries': Zaheer Abbas

Legendary Pakistan batsman Zaheer Abbas did not like the idea of IndiaPakistan matches being held in neutral countriesldquoWhy talk about neutral countries Talk positive We should play with each other in each otherrsquos countries I remember a large number of fans from India came to Pakistan for World Cup matches It is possible againrdquo Zaheer told a select gathering at the Cricket Club of India on FridayZaheer is on a family visit to India having entered from the Wagah Border and spending some time in Delhi before arriving in MumbailsquoIndia are doing wellrsquoThe 77yearold former Pakistan captain in the hourlong interaction kept pressing for the need to resume cricketing ties between India and Pakistan and not just limit the two nationsrsquo contests to multination tournaments at neutral venues ldquoYou India are doing well I can see the growth Tall buildings are constructed roads are laid Where will the roads lead to I wish the roads will lead to Pakistan from Delhi It is important that cricket between Pakistan and India should happenrdquo he saidZaheer was accompanied by his wife Samina Abbas an Indian from Kanpur formerly Rita Luthra sitting next to him Also among the gathering were former India players Karsan Ghavri and Kenia JayantilalThe 77yearold from Karachi nicknamed Zed added ldquoMatches should resume each nation should visit each other I donrsquot understand why it is not happening Both countries are neighbours both love cricket In my opinion they should be playing When Hero Ghavri came ask him if he faced any problemrdquo Ghavri responded with a ldquodefinitely notrdquoldquoThe Indian teams came happily After play will sound better than lsquoafter playingrsquo we used to sit together eat and chat I donrsquot understand why this relationship was broken It should not have brokenrdquo said Zaheer who played in 78 Tests from 1969 to 1985 scored 5062 runs at 4480 with 12 centuries six of which came against India alone in 19 matchesZaheer had great success against India averaging 87 said about his success against India ldquoI was in form When India visited Pakistan I did not sleep Such was my concentration I was thinking who I was going to face A person who has scored a hundred hundreds should have a lot of concentrationldquoOnce Bedi said lsquoZed we spinners talk for about halfanhour to 45 minutes on how to dismiss Zaheerrsquo I replied lsquoI am in form When I am in form no bowler can disturb me Donrsquot take it seriouslyrsquordquoZaheerrsquos hundredth firstclass hundred came against India in the 198283 Lahore Test in which he scored 215Asked what he did for concentration Zaheer said ldquoWhen India came to Pakistan or when I was playing in England I would suddenly wake up with a jerk while I was sleeping I used to think lsquoZaheer You have a match the next day How can you sleeprsquo I would get up I would not get sleep as India had the best spinners These things happen that motivate yourdquoGhavri recalls 197879 tourFormer India allrounder Ghavri remembered fondly his tour of Pakistan in 197879 ldquoThe hospitality in Pakistan cannot go wrong People were so warm there was a lot of affection straight from the heart There were fights on the field but thatrsquos part of the gamerdquoJayantilal who played in one Test on the 197071 tour of the West Indies remembered Zaheer as ldquoone who entered the Indian team dressing room after the famous win at the Oval in 1971 to congratulate usrdquo Zaheerrsquos wife Samina said ldquoThank you for having us Great pleasure I have got lots of love from my inlaws You come and visit my inlawsrdquo