Will wait for 2 more days, after that series is off: PCB
Will wait for 2 more days, after that series is off: PCB
With time running out for the proposed India-Pakistan cricket series, the PCB has said it would call off the much-talked-about rubber if the Indian government does not give its approval in the next couple of days.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said that the PCB would wait for a day or two before shelving plans for the short limited-overs series which was planned this month in Sri Lanka.
“After that the series will be off,” he said.Khan said chances of the series being organised now were very bleak since the resumption of cricketing ties between the two countries was not discussed by the Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj during her meetings with Pakistani officials in Islamabad.
“To be honest the chances of the series being held now are very bleak because we have been told cricket was not discussed in the meeting between the Indian foreign minister and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,” Khan said. “If the series is not held we stand to lose out on around $40 to 50 million and we had already started making preparations for the series in Sri Lanka which included hotel bookings,” the PCB chief said.
“We were hopeful that there would be good news when cricket was discussed in the meeting between the Indian minister and Pakistani
officials but that has not happened. We are disappointed.” Khan said the PCB will review its future policies and brief its governing board members on the developments.
“Not having the Indian series is a big setback for us financially. And we were expecting that the Indian board would get clearance from its government as they have signed a proper MOU with us. We also need to look at the future of the rest of the series laid out in this document.”
To a question, Khan said Pakistan’s participation in the World T20 in India in March will depend on getting permission from its government.
“The government had given clearance for us to play a short series with India in Sri Lanka but that has not happened so far,” he added. Indian board is still waiting for goverment’s approval: Anurag Thakur
Conceding that time is running out for the proposed Indo-Pak bilateral cricket series to take place, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur on Thursday said the Board is still waiting for the government approval before taking any decision.
India are set to leave for their Australia tour on January 5, which leaves little time for the high-profile series to take place.
“Media were hoping that Sushma Swaraj’s visit will decide the fate of the cricket series. But when it comes to relations between countries a lot is at stake and many things are taken into consideration before coming to a definite conclusion,” Thakur said.
“Whenever the Indian government will take a decision on this we will let you know,” Thakur told reporters at the sidelines of the signing of an MoU between the Afghanistan Cricket Board and the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority.
“It is their (PCB) call what is a comfortable time to host the series. We leave for Australia on the 5th of January and after a long series with South Africa it is every important to give the players 4-5 days rest. So Ideally if you have to fly on 5th you be free by 30th (of December),” he added. According to an MoU signed between the two nations, the PCB was supposed to host India in December for a bilateral series, but a series of flip flops from the two boards has resulted in confusion. Thakur, though, insisted that BCCI has been clear on government approval from the very start.
“I must set the record straight for everyone’s benefit that in April 2014 BCCI’s ex-boss had signed an agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board while bringing a few changes to the constitution of ICC. According to which if resolutions take place in the ICC constitution then India will play against Pakistan in this period for the next eight years.
“And according to that agreement, the PCB was supposed to host India on a neutral venue in the month of December.”
The PCB chairman and BCCI president met in Dubai and decided that we will play a series in Sri Lanka and both the Cricket Board’s will seek permission from their respective government’s for political clearance.
