INDO-PAK CRICKET

India-Pakistan series on the verge of being called off

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan © Cricbuzz

The anticipated cricket series between India and Pakistan could well be called off. According to reports, Shahryar Khan, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, has stated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has declined to play the series against Pakistan.

He also added that Pakistan will reconsider their decision to play in the ICC World T20 2016, set to be played by in India, after discussing with the Pakistan government. PCB is set to lose USD 50 million, as per the board chief.

Khan said that hopes of resumption of bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan with a short series later this month are "dying" with too little time left to organise the big ticket event. He added that the Islamabad visit of Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj did not help in revival of the series, virtually hinting that the proposed series in Sri Lanka may not take place at all.

It was expected that Sushma Swaraj, the External Affairs Minister's meeting with Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan's Foreign Minister in Islamabad on Wednesday (December 9) would pave way to the resumption of cricket ties between the neighboring countries. However, even as there were progressive talks about improving relations, there was no discussion on cricket.

"We were hopeful that Sushma Swaraj's visit will make things better but it did not happen," Khan was quoted as saying by Waqt News. "We wanted to play, but India did not respond positively. It is already too late to organise the series and we don't have time for the series anyway," he said referring to the proposed series in Sri Lanka where the teams were expected to play three ODIs and T20 internationals.

The PCB said that they are mulling legal options if the series is indeed cancelled. "We will decide our future plan after analysing our options under legal aspects and consultation," he said.

Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral series since 2007. India stalled cricketing ties in the aftermath of 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai, which were blamed on militants based in Pakistan. Pakistan, however, had toured India for a short ODI series in 2012.

Speaking to NDTV, Anurag Thakur, BCCI secretary, said: "If there is firing on the border, with your people getting killed, will you play cricket? Of course, no. Any Indian will say no to that. My personal view could be different, but I have to honour what the BCCI members have decided because I'm (the) secretary."

Last year, the BCCI had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistan of playing a series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or a mutually-agreed country in December 2015. The MoU was signed during the reign of N Srinivasan, the former BCCI president, in order to earn PCB's vote in his bid for the International Cricket Council's (ICC) chairmanship. The new regime, which has violated that MoU, might have to pay a hefty fine/face legal action.

© Cricbuzz