Published: Oct 29, 2015, 01:49 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 29, 2015, 01:53 PM (IST)
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday informed about receiving a letter from the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Shashank Manohar, over the cancellation of their talks in Mumbai a few days ago. Right-wing political party Shiv Sena’s workers had stormed into the office of the BCCI in Mumbai, amid reports that Manohar and his PCB counterpart Shahryar Khan are having a meeting over the future of India-Pakistan cricket. The talks were rescheduled in Delhi for the next day, i.e, October 20, but were eventually cancelled. This is the first time any of the two cricketing boards have spoken on the matter since that incident. ALSO READ: Pakistan threaten to pull out of ICC World T20 2016 in India
The PCB said in a press release on its website, “Chairman PCB, Mr. Shaharyar M. Khan has received a letter from President BCCI, Mr. Shashank Manohar, regarding the cancellation of their meeting in Mumbai. Mr. Manohar has expressed his sincere regrets for the cancellation of the meeting between officials from the two boards. Under pressure from extremist elements, BCCI cancelled its meeting with PCB officials which was scheduled to take place in Mumbai. It has also been conveyed that the BCCI has officially approached the Indian government to obtain definitive guidance on the Pakistan-India series.” ALSO READ: Shahryar Khan expresses disappointment over handling of India vs Pakistan series in letter to BCCI
“The PCB maintains that sports and politics should not be mixed, and hopes that the BCCI will not be held hostage by extremist elements who wish to sabotage bilateral cricket relations. The series, scheduled to be held in UAE at the end of this year, is part of an MOU signed between PCB and BCCI,” the press release added.
