‘Pakistan-India series may be reduced to meaningless fixtures’

Published December 8, 2015
India's delay in agreeing to the tour could further reduce the number of games in the series, says a PCB official. — AFP/file
India's delay in agreeing to the tour could further reduce the number of games in the series, says a PCB official. — AFP/file

ISLAMABAD: The much-blighted Pakistan-India series could be curtailed into a meaningless round of two ODIs and one T20 should the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) continue to offer a dead bat to its counterpart, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Tuesday.

The fate of a planned series between Pakistan and India is expected to be decided during a visit to Islamabad by India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who arrived in Pakistan today to attend the Heart of Asia regional conference.

In-depth: In a great but stalled cricket contest, Modi is the umpire

But according to the PCB official, who requested anonymity, India's reluctance to give Pakistan a clear answer has left the board with possibility of arranging only a very short series which could see the number of games being reduced.

“Both the boards cannot delay the dates of the series as both the teams have their international commitments in January,” the official told APP.

According to the official the series could not be organised “before or after December 15” which would mean chopping one ODI from the three ODI series and taking out one game from the two-match T20 series.

The series, agreed between the two boards in a memorandum of understanding signed last year, was originally scheduled to pit the two teams in three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s, but ran into trouble amid strained political relations.

On Monday, the PCB said it was awaiting the Indian government's approval of a shortened limited-over series — three one-day and two T20 internationals to be held in Sri Lanka — which it agreed with the BCCI last month.

The PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, who had given the BCCI a December 7 deadline to decide on the series, said: “We have been informally told that Swaraj will talk on cricket and decide the fate of the series.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of a climate change conference in Paris last week as the two countries seek a thaw in relations.

That informal meeting was followed by “cordial” talks between the Indian and Pakistani national security advisers in Bangkok on Sunday, giving Khan fresh hope the series could yet take place.

“The recent meeting between the two prime ministers and security advisers' meeting in Bangkok have hinted the situation between Pakistan and India will improve,” he said.

Making arrangements for the series — which could run from Dec 17-Jan 3 — would be “challenging” at such short notice, Khan said, “but we will do it once we get clearance from the Indian government”.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

An audit of polio funds at federal and provincial levels is sorely needed, with obstacles hindering eradication efforts targeted.
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...