Decision regarding India-Pakistan series might be taken during Champions Trophy

India and Pakistan, two arch-rivals are in the same group in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. They will begin their campaign on 4th of June at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The cricket fans all over the world are all set to witness another India-Pakistan clash. But a bilateral series between the two countries is not happening anytime soon, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shaharyar Khan will hold negotiations with the BCCI officials when the two neighbours face off against each other in the Champions Trophy. But Khan admitted that there are very little chances of having a bilateral series at the moment. According to reports from Dunya News, PCB will try to sort out the matter with the Indian board on 4th of June itself.

The preface

BCCI and PCB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) just a few years back. According to the terms and conditions of the MoU, India and Pakistan will play six bilateral series between 2015 to 2023. But the BCCI paid no heed to the MoU by ignoring its clauses. The Indian board said that it does not consider the MoU as a binding legal contract. They have cited security issues and lack of clearance from the government as the reason for their ignorance. The international relationship shared between the two countries is not very sound at the moment.

PCB claimed that they had to incur huge losses amounting to $200-300 million because of India walking out of the MoU. They had asked for compensation money of $69.57 million from BCCI. Shaharyar Khan was even ready to play at a neutral venue to avoid the security concern. But BCCI was not willing to accept any offer made by the Pakistan Board. Hence, the PCB will again have a chat with the BCCI officials regarding the series.