Kolkata: The meeting between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Dubai did not yield any result after the Indian government made it clear that the cross-border terrorism and cricket could not go hand in hand.
Joint Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary, CEO Rahul Johri and GM (Cricket Operations) MV Sridhar represented the BCCI in the meeting with the Pakistan board where this issue along with the $60 million compensation demanded by the PCB were put to discussion.
A BCCI release said, “The delegations of the BCCI and PCB have met in Dubai today and shared their stated positions. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and its outcome will be shared with the members of their respective boards.”
However according to a BCCI source private to this development, the $60 million compensation issue was discussed between the two boards for quite a long time. The damages were earlier demanded by the PCB from the BCCI for not honouring their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which clearly stated that the two nation’s would play five bilateral series in the eight year period from 2015-2023.
There was also this thought that a limited overs series could be planned in September, when the Champions League T20 used to be held.
But the BCCI, who has always held the Indian government’s stance in this issue as being the most important, made it clear to the PCB that a bilateral series without the government’s approval wouldn’t be possible.
“After today’s statement by the union sports minister, it is unlikely that a series against Pakistan will be held anytime soon. We have told PCB that unless our government gives permission, we will not even be able to play them at a neutral venue like the UAE,” a source of the BCCI private to this development said to the PTI.
This makes things absolutely clear that India would play Pakistan only in the ICC events. A highly awaited clash between these two arch-rivals would be held in Egdebaston on the 4 June, when India begins it’s Champions Trophy title defense.
(With inputs from PTI)