PCB to raise issue of India's disagreement on bilateral series with ICC

PCB to raise issue of India’s disagreement on bilateral series with ICC: Zaheer Abbas made it clear on Tuesday that the two countries, Pakistan and India cannot be forced to play against each other, after Pakistan Cricket Board indicated that it may raise the issue of India’s disagreement on playing a bilateral series in UAE against Pakistan with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The President of the cricket world’s body, Zaheer Abbas told the media in Lahore, “Since the matter is a bilateral one between two boards the ICC can only talk to them but not compel them to play against each other bilaterally.”

BCCI Secretary, Anurag Thakur made it clear last week that there will be no restoration of the cricket relation between the two countries unless there is a resolution of the political and diplomatic issues.

The chances of a bilateral series between India and Pakistan that was to take place in December now have very reduced chances said the PCB Chairman Shaharyar  Khan.

A close official of the PCB told the PTI that the Chairman, Shaharyar Khan was very disappointed after talks between the national security advisors of India and Pakistan was cancelled.

He added, “He was also disappointed with the statement that followed from the Indian cricket board secretary Anurag Thakur regarding playing cricket with Pakistan.”

The well-informed official also said that, Shaharyan Khan has also declined his plans of visiting India for a meeting with the BCCI and government officials convincing them to have the series which was to be held in December in the United Arab Emirates.

“He is not going to India but the PCB will this week write to the BCCI a strong letter asking them to honour the MoU signed between the two boards and give a clear answer on the series,” the source said.

The source said that the issue of India disagreeing for the series and not honouring the MoU may lead to the PCB raising the issue to the ICC board level since the series is a home series.

“Whenever it is our home series we get this feeling India has avoided playing us since 2007 and we have incurred big losses. We even went to India in 2012/13 without taking any big money as a goodwill gesture. But now it is not just about cricket but also finances,” he said.

Shaharyar told the “Jang” newspaper that the situations have worsened after the talks were cancelled but, he also said he would keep trying since there is some time left for the planned series to start.

“We will keep on trying because the series is important for us in many ways including financially and we did sign a proper MoU with the Indian board for six series,” he noted

It would be delighting to see both the countries play, said the former Test skipper of Pakistan Zaheer Abbas.

“But frankly speaking the ICC can’t do anything in this regard. The two boards have to resolve the issues themselves. Definitely I think it is a huge loss to cricket if Pakistan and India don’t play against each other because I think an Indo-Pak series is a real spectacle in the sport. The situation is most unfortunate,” Zaheer said.

The former Test skipper and Pakistan’s nominee for the President’s post admitted that according to the present scenario it was difficult for the teams to play a series in Pakistan and that it would take some time for the other countries gain confidence to tour Pakistan.

Zaheer also informed about ICC playing its role well and advising Pakistan on the renewal of International cricket after the series of events that have caused a downfall in the quality of cricket in the country.

On being asked about Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif to who received a green signal from the ICC after the spot fixing ban Zaheer  informed that the ICC told PCB, now it is the board’s responsibility on how to deal with it the case further.

“The ICC has confirmed their bans expire on 1st September and now the matter is with the PCB how they deal with it,” he added.