Pakistan Cricket Board excludes India from Future Tour Programme

The Pakistan Cricket Board has started to chalk out some plans for the 2023-207 Future Tour Programme cycle and isn’t looking for a series against India. The PCB has decided not to include any series with India and are also planning to exclude them from owning any media rights.

Since the last eight years, the neighbouring countries haven’t taken part in a bilateral series. For the time being, the two Asian teams only take part in tournaments organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Earlier, in previous FTP cycles, Pakistan would have left a window open for a series. However, as per reports in Geo Tv, since the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are at loggerheads, the PCB has taken the call and give opportunities to other teams.

Issues between India and Pakistan continue

Back in 2012-13, Pakistan toured India for a bilateral ODI and T20I series. It was the same tour when Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his debut at the highest level. From there on, India and Pakistan have played only in the World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy and Asia Cup.

The last time when the two teams faced each other was in the 2019 World Cup game at the Old Trafford in Manchester. The Men in Blue came out trumps in the rain-curtailed contest. India haven’t played in Pakistan since the 2007 Asia Cup.

Their last Test match also took place back in 2007. In the next three years, India are set to host a T20 World Cup and an ODI World Cup. For the multi-nation tournament, India have given written assurances to the ICC to issue visas to the Pakistan cricketers and media personnel.

About not playing against India, PCB chief Ehsan Mani accepted that PCB might endure a huge amount of loss, but the board isn’t quite concerned about the same for the time being. As per the chairman, Pakistan are set to play a series of at least three Tests in the new FTP.

Pakistan are currently in New Zealand where they will be playing three T20Is and two Tests. The tour starts on Friday, December 18 with the opening game at the Eden Park in Auckland.