England Backs Cricket Series Between Pakistan, India

The Indian cricket board had invited Pakistan to India for a series to which the PCB and the Pakistan government has categorically said “no”, saying that it was their turn to host and that they couldn’t understand BCCI’s problem in playing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a neutral venue.

Shahryar said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) president Giles Clarke, too, supported the series.

Sources in the PCB said that a visit by a Commonwealth team to play a few matches in Lahore and perhaps Karachi could be a “Plan B” by the Pakistan board incase India does not agree to play the first series of the MoU in December in the UAE.

Speaking on the sidelines of the fourth ODI between Pakistan and England in Dubai, Khan pointed out that he had travelled to the UAE specifically to watch the match and not meet BCCI president Shashank Manohar. “I have no meeting scheduled with Manohar but if he asks for a meeting then we can meet”, said Khan. But the new dispensation of BCCI is against the idea and it will take a few convincing on part of the PCB to make the series happen. Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) has said that he wants to take the final call on the series. “We have put that before the BCCI”, said Khan.

Rajeev Shukla clarified that India would be willing to play in Lahore if Pakistan gave ICC proper security assurances. “Our last hope is with the Pakistan government”.

The quid pro quo arrangement between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to resume cricketing ties, and nip in the bud a potential rival axis around the allegedly divisive controversial ICC revamp structure past year, has resulted in a shrill quarrel between the two Boards on the issue of where the teams will play. “But I would like to point out that, as all of you remember, previous year they played the IPL here [in the UAE] and it was successfully conducted”. “Lets see if Clarke makes the effort and comes here tomorrow”.

However, Khan reiterated, the PCB would not go out of its way for the series to go ahead. We are not going to come down on our knees and beg. Even we had a part of last year’s IPL over there without hassles.

Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent.