INDIA-PAKISTAN BILATERAL SERIES

India-Pakistan series set to be rejected by Indian government: Reports

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

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The chances of a bilateral series between India and Pakistan have taken a hit as reports are rife that the Indian government have raised an objection to it and are set to reject the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) plea for the same.

"The government has given us an indication that public sentiment at the moment is against Pakistan, which is involved in anti-India activities. Also, there are only a few days left for the proposed series to start (in the latter half of December). If the government wanted us to play, we would have got clearance a long time ago. So, I don't think this series is happening," a BCCI official was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

There have been growing uncertainty and impasse over the prospects of the series, with BCCI refusing to play in UAE despite it being a home series for Pakistan, as per the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two boards. According to the MoU, the two boards will hold six bilateral series over a period of eight years between 2015 and 2023, with the first one scheduled for December this year.After a lot of debate and discussion, Sri Lanka emerged as a possible venue for Pakistan's 'home' series but the Indian government has poured cold water over BCCI's intentions. Even Sarbananda Sonowal, the sports minister, had thrown his weight behind BCCI's hope to have an India-Pakistan series, saying the board needs to be supported.

"We play Pakistan in the World Cup. We played them in the 2015 World Cup, well play them next year in the Asia Cup. Then well again play them in the month of March in World T20. So when you play them in a multinational tournament in world events, then what stops you from playing them in a bilateral series. So thats the question we have to answer," Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary, was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

However, the complex nature of the volatile political relationship between the two nations has had its repercussions on the cricket played between them and the government seems to be of the opinion that time is not right for cricketing ties to resume.

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