Younus wants bilateral cricket ties with India restored soon

At the opening of a sports shop here, Younus said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ejaz Butt going to India to meet BCCI officials was a good sign. "I hope he returns home after having positive negotiations with the Indian board officials and there is some progress towards restoring bilateral cricket ties with India," he said. "Cricket has always served to reduce differences between the people of the two countries and give a boost to friendship," he added.

Younus said nothing matched the significance of a series with India. "I think even our semifinal loss in the Champions Trophy was accepted by the people because we managed to beat India in the group stage," he said. Younus said he still cherished his 267 runs against India at Bangalore in 2005 as one of his best Test innings. India has suspended bilateral ties with Pakistan since the Mumbai terror attacks last November and cancelled a Test tour to Pakistan earlier this year causing heavy losses in revenues to the PCB.