Indo-Pak goodwill due to cricket no longer there: Imran

Legendary fast bowler Imran Khan rued that the goodwill built by cricketing ties between India and Pakistan a few years back was lost due to "political reasons".

Legendary fast bowler Imran Khan rued that the goodwill built by cricketing ties between India and Pakistan a few years back was lost due to "political reasons".

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"... A few years back, there was a chance that the (two) countries were moving closer. We had cricket matches between the two countries and Pakistan lost in Pakistan. And you saw Indian flags on Pakistani cricket grounds (in 2004), which I thought I would never see in my lifetime. Things were getting better," he said at a CNN programme 'Connect the World'.

"And then suddenly Mumbai happened. And, sadly, we are back to square one. So I think people of both countries are desperate that we live like normal neighbours, we have peace. The problem is political," he added.

The former Pakistan cricket captain also felt that ball tampering has been part of the game but felt his countrymate Shahid Afridi was caught as he "crossed the limit".

"... I was involved in a court case about ball tampering (against Ian Botham). And basically my plea in the court was that ball tampering was part of cricket. It was just the degree that varied ... That level of ball tampering," Imran said.