BCCI awaits government's clearance for the India-Pakistan series in December

BCCI awaits government’s clearance for the India-Pakistan series in December: It seems like fans from both countries India and Pakistan will be able to enjoy the Indo-Pak rivalry once again at the end of this year. The BCCI has not totally ruled out the possibilities of a series between India and Pakistan in the month of December.

It is reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will be seeking the Government’ s approval for the series after the festival of Diwali.

BCCI is keen to host 5 match ODI series and two T20I match with Pakistan in December.  Pakistan last toured India in 2012-13. The BCCI allocated this window to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a MoU signed between the two boards last year. Team India has no international matches scheduled in December.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, India and Pakistan will play multiple bilateral series between the years 2015 to 2023.

PCB chief Shahryar Khan was supposed to hold a meeting with Indian board president Shashank Manohar in Mumbai last month. However, The discussions were interrupted by political party Shiv Sena who barged into the BCCI office.

Shashank Manohar was quizzed following the 86th Annual General Meeting that whether the Pakistan series in December is a possibility or not, Manohar was quoted as saying “To play against Pakistan, we need to get the government’s permission. So we need to speak to the government and whatever decision the government takes, the BCCI will decide accordingly.”

Top BCCI officials said talks have already begun with the government and another series of talks will take place after Diwali. It is reported that BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, a MP from the ruling party BJP from Hamirpur, will be approaching the Union Home Ministry to get a confirmation.

“We want cricketing ties to happen, we don’t want politics to hamper cricket. We will be going with a few proposals. One, where we can have five ODIs and two T20s. In the second proposal, we can have three ODIs and two T20s. All these games will be played in those parts of the country where we feel there will be no disturbance from political parties,” a top BCCI official told The Indian Express.

India is currently playing a four-Test series with South Africa at home and the fourth Test will be played in Delhi from December 3-7. The next tour for India will be to Australia in January where they play five ODIs and three T20s from January 12 onward.