ICC lacks the power to pursue BCCI for an Indo-Pak series, feels Wasim Akram

A new season of the Ashes is already knocking on the door. The two arch-rivals, England and Australia are ready to give their everything to get the better of the other. In such a scenario, former Pakistani skipper Wasim Akram, just like any other Indian or Pakistani cricket lover, is eager to witness an Indo-Pak clash in cricket. However, the international relationship between the two neighbours has always poked its nose in the game.

Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) has persuaded their Indian counterparts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a bilateral series, but of no use. The International Cricket Council (ICC) remained silent in this regard, which led to legendary pacer from Lahore claim that ICC lacks the power to pursue BCCI to make the Indian team play a bilateral series against the green shirts.

“I don’t think ICC has the power to pursue BCCI, but again I have always said people to people contact is necessary. Politics and sport should be separate. A Pakistan India match is more fun to watch than the Ashes. 20 million people watch the Ashes while a Pakistan India match is watched by a billion people,” said the man who used to dominate the pace circuit of the world during his prime, as per reports in Geo TV.

What ICC had to say

Back in September, the Chief Executive Officer of ICC, Dave Richardson clearly stated that the council can’t force BCCI to agree to an Indo-Pak bilateral clash. “If India is not ready to play with Pakistan, we can’t force them to do so,” Richardson said.

“You have to understand that bilateral series is always held with the agreement of two cricket boards and though we would like to see India and Pakistan play bilateral matches they have political tensions and any cricket is dependent on their existing relations,” he further added, which led many Pakistani supporters claim that ICC has no power in front of BCCI.