More trouble for BCCI as PCB sends a legal notice

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately. They have been at the loggerheads with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the new proposed revenue model by the latter which has put their participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy under a cloud. While talks are still in progress between both parties and hopefully a decision will be taken soon, though, BCCI has crossed the deadline for the submission of the 15-man squad by 9 days.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in the meantime, has sent a legal notice to the BCCI for allegedly not honouring a contractual agreement between the two boards. It is learnt that the PCB and BCCI had agreed to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. The agreement was signed when the Big Three Model was in place which, though, has now been done away with. According to the agreement, India were to visit Pakistan for four of the mentioned six series.

The BCCI is advised to not participate in a bilateral series against the arch-rivals due to the political differences between the two countries. “PCB has claimed losses and damage suffered as a result of BCCI’s breach of the agreement,” the statement said.

The PCB, through the notice, is seeking damages from the richest cricket board in the world. “The PCB has today sent to BCCI a Notice of Dispute under the Dispute Resolution Committee Terms of Reference of the ICC (ICC TORs) for breaching the agreement executed between PCB and BCCI in respect of the Future Tour Programme for the period 2015-2023,” the statement read.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has time and again threatened to send a notice to BCCI while interacting to the media. The political turmoil has never made it possible for India to go ahead with a bilateral series against India. Pakistan toured India at the end of 2012 for a 2 T20 matches and 3-match ODI series. This was the last bilateral series played between both sides.

Pakistan and India last played in a Test match ten years ago in 2007, which has not allowed modern-day great Virat Kohli to play a single Test match against the neighbouring country.

It remains to be seen how BCCI will respond to the legal notice.