BCCI says Indian players will not participate in ICC’s T20 match in Lahore

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) still sticks to their stance of not playing Pakistan on any occasion other than a global event. Since ICC has scheduled to send a World XI to Pakistan to resume regular cricket in the heartland after 2009, when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus, BCCI is in no mood to let Indian players travel to Pakistan and play against the home team.

Without the government’s approval, BCCI can’t let Indian players play Pakistan anywhere in the world. Due to constant terrorist activities across the Kashmir border. ICC is about to host a Twenty 20 match between Pakistan and World XI in Lahore later this year. Since it is an ICC organised match the BCCI is obliged to allow Indian players to play. But, BCCI cannot make the commitment unless the Indian government gives its approval.

Pakistan is the only team in the world who lifted the ICC trophy without playing any big team on their home soil since 2009. They have been playing regular cricket at their adopted home United Arab Emirates. But, PCB’s constant request to other boards to visit them and play in the country was overlooked. Now, as the team has won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, they are expecting other teams to make visits. So, ICC wants to make it official hosting the T20I in Lahore.

ICC in a media release said the ICC Board “agreed to support” the proposal. “Further details will be announced in due course,” the ICC had said in a release.

“Actually, we should wait till the selection of the World XI. If the matches were scheduled alongside any of our series, naturally our players can’t participate,” BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said after the Special General Meeting (SGM) on Monday.

Since 2009, Pakistan have played only one series at home against Zimbabwe in 2015 in Lahore. On the issue of the bilateral agreement with Pakistan, Choudhary said India can’t play arch-rivals Pakistan until Indian govt. gives them approval.

“On the 29th of last month, we had a meeting (with PCB officials) which had become necessary as a result of a letter written by us, the BCCI, in April, 2014. We again met them in the presence of the ICC and both times our stand was simple… That both nations can play only after we get the permission from the government,” said Choudhary.