PCB to give up on India-Pakistan series

With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet to come up with a definite response on the fate of the proposed bilateral series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally decided to stop pursuing the matter.

The PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan wrote to the BCCI on Thursday, asking the Indian board to come up with a decision on the series within the next two days. The PCB chief warned that if the series does not get the green light, Pakistan will boycott all their matches against India.

The BCCI, however, is yet to respond and the PCB has decided it will announce on Monday its decision regarding giving up on the series.

“Yes, we haven’t received a reply from the BCCI till Saturday evening, therefore, we are closing this chapter now. We will, however, make an announcement in this regard by Monday.”

“We made every possible effort to play India and even changed the venue from the UAE to Sri Lanka on BCCI’s request, but our efforts went in vain. We signed a MoU with the BCCI last year and were sincere in playing cricket with them,” Shaharyar Khan was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper on Sunday.

“Our failure to materialise the series disappointed millions of cricket fans all over the world, especially in India and Pakistan.”

Shaharyar Khan warned that the PCB would raise the issue with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and at the bilateral level.

The PCB chief also said that it was difficult to make arrangements for the series at a short notice and Pakistan should not be held responsible for its cancellation.

The BCCI had consented to limited overs series with Pakistan in Sri Lanka and had asked the Indian government for permission. But the Indian government is yet to give its consent.

The BCCI and the PCB signed an MoU last year under which the two countries agreed to play a total of six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

The first of those series was originally scheduled to be hosted by the PCB in the United arab Emirates (UAE) this month. But BCCI president Shashank Manohar is against the idea of playing in the UAE.

India has not played a full bilateral Test series with Pakistan since after the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008.

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Series won’t happen for a year if not held within Jan.: PCB

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has said if the proposed India-Pakistan bilateral series is not held within the next month it would not be possible to have one for the next one year.

“I don’t see the series happening in the next one year if it is not held at this time as both teams have international commitment throughout 2016,” Khan said.

He also made it clear that the bilateral series with India that is still undecided and the World T20 were two separate things.

“This is a bilateral series between two nations the World T20 is an ICC event.”

But the PCB chief said in an interview that the PCB will have to seek its government permission to send the team to India for the World T20 in March.

“We are monitoring the situation but given the current environment in India with regards to Pakistan we will have to ask our government for permission whether the security situation is ok for us to send our team,” he said.

Khan sounded visibly disappointed at the failure of the Indian board and government to clear the short bilateral series with Pakistan in Sri Lanka.

“Yes I know I am being criticised by some people for trying to have this series and pushing for it but in the end we just want it to happen this time or else we will have to wait for the next one year.

“We feel that India must fulfill the MOU signed between the two boards and if the series is held it will play a role in improving India and Pakistan relations.”

Khan also insisted that if India didn’t agree to play the series the PCB would obviously suffer financial losses but would not go bankrupt.

“By grace of god we are in a stable financial position and though not having the series will deprive us of lot of estimated revenues but it does not mean we will be in a bad financial position.”

The PCB chief said he had still not given up hope and even the ICC wanted the two boards to play the series soon.

“We are going to wait for a few more days at the most to get a positive response from India after that we move on to other things,” he said.

Khan confirmed that ECB president Giles Clarke was playing the role of a mediator in the whole issue.

“He has been very helpful since he is also the head of the ICC task force on Pakistan cricket. He has also advised us to remain patient and wait for a positive reply,” he said.

Khan felt that the Indian board also wanted to play the series but said it was not up to them to convince their government to give clearance.

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India-Pakistan cricket series should resume: Wasim Akram

Former fast bowler Wasim Akram says that Pakistan should not mind playing the proposed series in India if the government gives the go ahead for the resumption of cricket ties.

The two Asian neighbors are expected to play at a neutral venue with Sri Lanka emerging as the venue for the ODIs and T20s.

“It does not matter what the venue is and Pakistan can play in India if our government gives clearance. The main thing is that Indo-Pak cricket series should be resumed,” Akram said.

The former Pakistan captain said it was important to move forward in Indo-Pak cricket relations as nearly 10 crore people in both countries follow the contest.

“It is important for both countries to play against each other in the larger interest of the game. And there is no doubt that if a series takes place soon it will strengthen the Pakistan cricket board financially,” said.

The PCB said in a statement on Wednesday that there had been lot of speculations in the media since the meeting of the PCB and BCCI chiefs in Dubai with the President of the England and Wales Cricket Board Giles Clarke also present.

“PCB has informed the government of the talks in Dubai that were regarded as fruitful. The PCB has not asked for an NOC from government, for it is the government’s prerogative to decide on the issue,” the statement said.

It also said that the BCCI is similarly also seeking its government’s views on these matters and that no request has been received from BCCI regarding the sharing of revenues.

The statement said any briefing on any developments will be done by Giles Clarke.

Akram’s push for having the series even in India comes at a time when the PCB reacted strongly to the national T20 skipper Shahid Afridi saying in the media that Pakistan could go and play in India if the PCB got good money for the series.

The PCB had sought an explanation from Afridi for his comments on policy matters and cautioned him to be careful in future.

But in Dubai on Wednesday Afridi again fully endorsed any resumption of cricket ties with India, saying wherever and whenever a series is played the show must go on, irrespective of politics.

Many other former Pakistan players including Javed Miandad have opposed to Pakistan touring India for the series.

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