Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar sees chances of Indo-Pak series fading with too little time left to organise the big-ticket event
Anurag Thakur and Shahryar Khan
Karachi: PCB chief Shahryar Khan yesterday 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.
Anurag Thakur and Shahryar Khan (Pic/AFP)
Shahryar said 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. "We were hopeful that Sushma Swaraj's visit will make things better but it did not happen," he was quoted as saying by Waqt News.
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"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.
Sri Lanka emerged as the host for the series between arch-rivals after India refused to play in UAE. According to FTP, India and Pakistan are supposed to play six series between 2015 and 2023 with four to be hosted by Pakistan.
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. In New Delhi, BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur told PTI that they are still awaiting MEA's nod for the series.
"So far we have not got any communication from the MEA regarding the series. Now it is up to the MEA to decide. The BCCI has already made it clear that we have a compulsion to play Pakistan as per the MoU," he said.
He also clarified his stance on the revival of cricketing ties between the two countries.
"As the BCCI Secretary, I will have to say that we have a compulsion to play Pakistan. The previous regime had signed the MoU with Pakistan. My personal view on the matter is different. I feel that we can't play cricket when soldiers are dying in the line of duty," Thakur, who is also a BJP MP, said.
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