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India-Pakistan bilateral series: BCCI seeking government permission?

If everything goes as per BCCI’s wish and proposal, India and Pakistan could well be playing a full series at a neutral venue in Dubai, consisting 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 2 T20Is.

India and Pakistan played in the multinational tournaments like Asia Cup and ICC World T20 © Getty Images
India and Pakistan played in the multinational tournaments like Asia Cup and ICC World T20 © Getty Images

A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source has revealed that the it is not in talks with Indian government about a bilateral series with Pakistan. Earlier, reports made round of BCCI taking steps to revive bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan . The board was also reported to have written a letter to the government asking for their permission for a full series between India and Pakistan at a neutral venue in Dubai, consisting 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 2 T20Is. The news came in regards to BCCI’s  Future Tours & Programme (FTP) agreement, which was signed in 2014. India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series of two T20I matches in early 2013. Misbah-ul-Haq : Hard-decisions required to be made against spot-fixers to safeguard future of Pakistan cricket

A BCCI source had told Indian Express, “Permission has been sought from Home Ministry; we don’t know what is the government stand. Last time, tension between the two countries was at its peak. Also, there is the FTP agreement that needs to be fulfilled and that’s why the board is willing to travel to Dubai to play a series against Pakistan.” There were also news of BCCI seeking the September or the November slot to play Pakistan. However, an ANI tweet confirmed that BCCI is in no such talks with the government for the rumoured series. Here is the tweet:

India were scheduled to play a bilateral series with Pakistan as per the FTP in 2015 but that did not materialize. However, in 2016, there were many rumours of India and Pakistan being interested in such a series.

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