TEHRAN – Pakistan has pledged comprehensive support for the development of cricket in Iran, with officials from the two countries agreeing to put a previously proposed sports cooperation agreement into operation in the near future.
Pakistani Ambassador to Iran Imran Ahmed Siddiqui met with Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Ahmad Donyamali to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation in sports and youth affairs.
Sports cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad was raised in 2022 within the framework of a joint commission between the two countries, but the proposed agreement has yet to be implemented. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to put the cooperation document into operation in the near future.
Donyamali specifically highlighted cricket, saying Iran intends to benefit from Pakistan’s expertise in the sport, in which the neighboring country has developed a distinctive style. He noted that cricket is popular in Iran’s southern provinces bordering Pakistan and said Iran seeks to develop the sport at a professional level.
The Iranian minister added that Pakistan also has considerable expertise in other racket sports, saying Pakistani coaches’ and referees’ knowledge could help Iranian athletes make progress in those disciplines.
The head of the Iranian Cricket Association, who attended the meeting, described exchanges between Pakistani and Iranian cricket officials as satisfactory and announced that a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the sport is being prepared.
For his part, Siddiqui described political relations between Iran and Pakistan as very friendly and close, expressing hope that the same level of engagement would extend to sports and youth affairs.
“Iran and Pakistan can stand together not only in sports but also in all other fields, including art, culture and others,” the ambassador said, adding that he would make every effort to create such opportunities over the next two months.
He said all the proposals raised at the meeting were feasible and could be implemented. He also suggested that online contacts between deputy ministers of sports and youth affairs in the two countries could lay the groundwork for many joint programs.
The Pakistani ambassador also assured the Iranian side that Pakistan would provide comprehensive cooperation to help develop cricket in Iran.