KARACHI/NEW DELHI: Confusion persists over the highly anticipated Indo-Pak bilateral series as conflicting versions from authorities regarding the future of the series emerged Friday.

The latest to add to the uncertainty is Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup, who tweeted last night that "no decision" has been taken by the Indian government on the upcoming series.

The announcement is inconsistent with the statement of Indian Premier League Chairman and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) functionary Rajeev Shukla, who earlier told reporters that the series was likely to take place from December 15 in Sri Lanka, as reported by IBNLive.

"India-Pakistan series will happen tentatively from December 15 in Sri Lanka," Shukla had said at the time.

Also read: PCB denies getting govt nod for India-Pakistan series

Indian govt divided?

A PCB source told Dawn.com on that the confusion surrounding the imminent Pak-India series has been amplified due to difference of opinion within the Indian government.

"It appears that the Indian government is divided over this issue. The relevant ministry has conveyed to the BCCI to go ahead. But the opposing group is saying there is no decision." He added that it is being made more into a political issue than a matter of cricketing ties.

In India, the hashtag #nocricketwithpakistan trended on Twitter Thursday as social media users took offence to the BCCI's green signal announcement on the anniversary of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

In Pakistan, the government has approved a Pak-India series, but the official statement has not yet been communicated to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

In an interview with The National published yesterday, Information Minister Pervez Rashid said, “The Prime Minister [Nawaz Sharif] has given permission for Pakistan to play cricket matches with India in Sri Lanka.”

Local TV channels too reported that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given the green light for the series in a statement sent out by the Prime Minister House.

But chairman Shaharyar Khan said that he was still waiting for the go-ahead from the government.

Months of confusion

Pakistan and India's cricket boards have faced a deadlock for months on a venue for the series. India had refused to play in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan rejected the Indian board's proposal to play the series in India.

Giles Clarke, who heads International Cricket Council's Pakistan Task Force, organised a meeting in Dubai between the heads of two cricket boards last week where Sri Lanka was chosen as the venue.

ESPNcricinfo on Wednesday reported that both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the PCB confirmed they had written to their respective government's for clearance for the tour.

The series, comprising three ODIs and two T20s, is expected to kick off on December 20, most likely in Pallekele or Colombo.

Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral series since 2007.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding both the boards had agreed in 2014, six series were scheduled between 2015 and 2023, with four series to be hosted by Pakistan.

But all series were subject to clearance from the respective governments.