Published: Oct 06, 2015, 12:06 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 06, 2015, 01:21 PM (IST)
The proposed India-Pakistan cricket series, which is due in December, now looks to have no future after Pakistan’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Sartaj Aziz mentioning that he sees no cricket taking place between the two countries in near future. Aziz, talking to the press in Islamabad, mentioned that he does not foresee any cricket being played as both nuclear powered nations have hit a new low in their relationship. Aziz told the media, “”I see no chance of cricket between Pakistan and India under the current situation. The situation first needs to be made favorable in other things as well first.” while speaking to various news channels. Just a day before Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan, who returned back to the country from his trip to India, said that he was keen on discussing cricketing issues with the new Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) president in coming week as the ICC meeting is due in Dubai. BCCI and PCB have signed upon various MOUs planning on having as many as six series from the period of 2015 to 2022. Aziz also mentioned that the PCB is trying its level best to get a go ahead from BCCI for the series to take place. “The PCB can comment on this in detail but I am not very hopeful of any cricket series soon,” he said. ALSO READ: Malala Yousafzai wishes to see Pakistan win every match vs India
Relations between both the country have not been good to say the least as there has been no full bilateral series between India and Pakistan after 2007, apart from the small One- Day International series which was played in end of 2012 -2013. BCCI has time and again said that the series in December will only take after the Indian government gives the go ahead and there is peace between both nations. Shahryar Khan who has been advocating for the series meet Aziz to discuss the same did not have any good news to give as the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan did not meet during the recently held UN assembly in New York making it much harder.
As an alternative Shahryar did mention that PCB would try to make arrangements for the Pakistan Super League to take place in December instead of the Feb 4 to 24th timeline as planned in UAE if the series against India did not materialize.”We have still not given up hope but the comments by our national security advisor means the series is in danger,” was said by a PCB official when contacted late in the day while mentioning that even they are pending to get a security clearance form the Pakistan government for the series against India.
