Sri Lanka offer to host India-Pakistan bilateral series

As we have come to the end of Indian Premier League, another big tournament is just round the corner as the top 8 nations of the world will fight it out in the upcoming Champions Trophy scheduled to be played in England and Wales from 1st June to 19th June. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will meet each other during their first home game during the tourney.

Both these teams don’t play each other in bilateral series due to the prevalent political tensional and only compete in ICC tournaments. Talks have been doing rounds for a bilateral series between the two teams but nothing exhaustive has come out. However, Asian Giants Sri Lanka has now offered to host India-Pakistan bilateral series in the island nation.

As per a report by a Pakistan Observer, SLC board President Thilanga Sumanathipala has requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give his nod for the India Pakistan series. “I met Mr Narendra Modi at BMICH (Bandarnayaka Memorial International Conference Hall) and conveyed the message to him to consider playing against Pakistan,” Sumathipala was quoted as saying by India.com.

“Not only Pakistan is suffering. India is losing when Pakistan is not playing India as much as Pakistan is losing if India is not playing them”. “I have requested Mr Modi either to allow both play in Dubai or in Sri Lanka,” he further added.

No plans touring Pakistan in near future

The SLC President also revealed that they have no plans in touring Pakistan now but will be eager in hosting an India-Pakistan bilateral series. “There is no immediate plan this year to play against Pakistan in Pakistan,” he said.

It will be a tricky position for BCCI and it will be interesting to see whether they agree to play them in a neutral venue. On Thursday Pakistan chairman had apparently said that BCCI won’t allow the Indian players to play Pakistan in a bilateral series even in India.