Aussie PM advocates Ashes revenge as panacea for strong ties

Chennai, Mar 8 (UNI) Australian Prime Minister John Howard, an incorrigible cricket fan, advocated a novel way of strengthening Indo-Aussie and India-Pakistan relations through cricket, at the MRF Pace Foundation here today.

Sharing his impressions about the world class facilities at the Foundation, which is endeavuoring to produce talented fast bowlers for Indian cricket, Howard said India should defeat England in the ongoing home series and emulate Pakistan which beat England in its home series.

Elaborating, Mr Howard said ''When I happened to meet Pakistan President Pervez Musharaff in the UN, a day after England emerged victorious in the Ashes series, Mr Musharaff assured me that Pakistan would avenge the Aussies' defeat by winning the home series against England. They did.'' ''May the best team win in the ongoing England -India series.

But if India also defeats England, it would do good for her relations with Pakistan', Howard said , amidst applause from the audience.

''This would also do good for relations between India and Australia as India too would be avenging Australia's Ashes defeat at the hands of England'', a beaming Howard said, amidst applause.

Appreciating the training methods and the good work being done by his own countryman and former pace bowler Dennis Lilee who is the head coach at the Pace Foundation, Mr Howard said in jest, ''I had come here in some trepidation that at the rate and the determination with which India is catching up with the top flight cricketing nations, we (the Australian team) would have to redouble our efforts to stay on top.'' ''I am sure we will do it'', he added, in jest.

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