MS Dhoni : India-Pakistan cricket should be left to the government to decide
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MS Dhoni has stated that any bilateral series between India and Pakistan is beyond the realms of the BCCI now and the government are the only body who can take a decision on it. The former skipper has also added that Indian cricket has been a big part in impacting the national economy.
In another desperate attempt to play against India, recently, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi had said that they will only sign up for the Test and one-day leagues if India
"When it comes to India-Pakistan cricket, it is not just sports, but becomes much bigger than that. It is not a simple decision, but a diplomatic and a political decision," Dhoni said in an army cricket match in Kashmir, reported PTI.
"So, it is a big decision and I think we should leave it to the government to decide. If the government decides, we will go and play and if they decide against it, we will play some other series," he added.
After the linearization of the Indian economy in 1991, Jagmohan Dalmiya spurred up a huge transformation of sorts in the Indian cricket taking to every nook and cranny of the world through Television. Sachin Tendulkar’s exploits, IPL, and India’s T20 World Cup win in 2007 took the movement to several notches up and Indian cricket became the golden goose that we come to know today. Dhoni, definitely one of the biggest celebrities in terms of brand value and impact, commented that the development of the Indian cricket has not only changed the cricketers' lifestyle, it has also impacted the country’s economy as a whole.
"It's not just cricket and to say that it's just cricket, would be wrong. It is much more than that and it impacts economy a lot. It is said that sports should be kept away from politics, but when it comes to cricket and involvement of Indian cricket team - be it a bilateral series or any big tournament - it is not just cricket because wherever we go to play, we generate a lot of money and ultimately that money flows into the economy," said Dhoni.