ICC president Zaheer Abbas bats for Pakistan players in IPL

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Zaheer Abbas has said he will ask the BCCI top brass to consider having Pakistan players in the IPL again when he comes to India to watch the summit clash of the lucrative league in Bengaluru on 29 May.

Abbas told the media in Lahore that if Pakistan players were included in the IPL, "it would raise the importance and status of the league".

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The former Pakistan captain will be flying to Bengaluru this week to watch the IPL final on the invitation of the new BCCI president Anurag Thakur.

Abbas also called for revival of bilateral cricketing ties between Pakistan and India.

"I have accepted the invitation and it is a good opportunity for me to again highlight the importance of resuming bilateral cricket ties although they are obviously subject to government clearances," Abbas said.

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A number of Pakistan cricketers took part in the inaugural edition of the IPL but after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 the BCCI stopped inviting them for the league which is now in its ninth year.

Talking about the desirability of resumption of bilateral cricketing ties, Abbas said everyone wanted to see Pakistan and India play each other as it's the most-watched cricket contest in the world.

"I think any government hurdles in the way of having a bilateral series should be removed," he added.

Abbas is set to step down as ICC president at end of July and is expected to be given an important assignment in the PCB after that.

-PTI