Pakistan-India series on the cards as BCCI seeks govt nod

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has written a letter to the home ministry, seeking permission for a bilateral series against Pakistan at the neutral venue later this year.

“Permission has been sought from the home ministry; we don’t know what is the government stand. Last time, tension between the two countries was at its peak. Also, there is the FTP agreement that needs to be fulfilled and that’s why the board is willing to travel to Dubai to play a series against Pakistan. Unless the government gives its nod, the BCCI cannot do anything,” The Indian Express quoted a BCCI source as saying on Wednesday.

The report suggested that the Indian board is looking at a September to November window to play a series in UAE, which is also the second home ground of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, reacting on the development, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan said the Indian cricket board has so far not contacted the PCB on the issue.

“I got to know about this development through Indian media,” Dawn.com quoted Khan as saying. “The BCCI is probably afraid of the International Cricket Board (ICC) and therefore wants to play the series now,” he remarked.

Last year, the BCCI was keen on hosting Pakistan for a series but didn’t get government’s permission owing to tension between Islamabad and New Delhi.

Last December, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) too had said that the BCCI was willing to play a bilateral series but it was the Indian government which refused to clear such a contest.

India have not played bilateral cricket series with Pakistan since 2012 when the arch-rivals clashed in a short bilateral series.

India and Pakistan last played an ODI during the World Cup. The two cricketing nations also clashed at the Asia Cup T20 and the World T20, with India emerging victorious on all three occasions.

Unfavorable environment for series?

The news of the bilateral series between the arch rivals is nothing less than a breath of fresh air for cricket lovers. However, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh has reportedly said that the current environment did not allow for a series between the two countries.

According to a report on Geo News, Singh said he was not aware of any such correspondence with the BCCI, but vowed that his ministry would review the matter whenever any similar proposal was put forward.

Moreover, Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla also denied knowledge on any such letter written by the BCCI to the Indian government. “I have always held the stance that cricket should be kept separate from politics,” he was quoted as saying.