Published: Dec 09, 2015, 09:41 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 09, 2015, 10:55 PM (IST)
Karachi: PCB chief Shahryar Khan said that hopes of resumption of bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan with a short series later in December are “dying” with too little time left to organise the big ticket event. Shahryar said the Islamabad visit of Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj did not help in revival of the series, virtually hinting that the proposed series in Sri Lanka may not take place at all. “We were hopeful that Sushma Swaraj’s visit will make things better but it did not happen,” he was quoted as saying by Waqt News. India-Pakistan bilateral series cancelled: Reports
“We wanted to play, but India did not respond positively. It is already too late to organise the series and we don t have time for the series anyway,” he said referring to the proposed series in Sri Lanka where the teams were expected to play three ODIs and T20 Internationals. The PCB said that they are mulling legal options if the series is indeed cancelled. “We will decide our future plan after analysing our options under legal aspects and consultation,” he said. Sri Lanka emerged as the host for the series between arch-rivals after India refused to play in UAE.
According to FTP, India and Pakistan are supposed to play six series between 2015 and 2023 with four to be hosted by Pakistan. Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral series since 2007. India stalled cricketing ties in the aftermath of 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai, which were blamed on militants based in Pakistan. Pakistan, however, had toured India for a short ODI series in 2012.
“As the BCCI Secretary, I will have to say that we have a compulsion to play Pakistan. The previous regime had signed the MoU with Pakistan. My personal view on the matter is different. I feel that we can’t play cricket when soldiers are dying in the line of duty,” Thakur, who is also a BJP MP, said.
