Interior Minister rules out cricket team’s likely tour to India

“What is the problem playing in UAE as they had also played their IPL there as well so why not Pakistan series?”

The PCB chief also raised concerns about the security of the Pakistan team in India although he revealed that the BCCI has offered to play matches in Mohali and Kolkata, which are relatively safer. But according to the Memorandum of Understanding, its Pakistan’s turn to host a bilateral series in UAE after India hosted it twice already in 2007 and in 2012.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar (left) and PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan. “It is our series and we will play at our home venue which is the UAE”, he reiterated, quashing BCCI’s idea to host the event. However, it is understood that only about a month’s window is available for the series as India travel to Australia on January 8 for limited-over contests from January 12.

The Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed his disapproval regarding the possibility of the national cricket team’s tour to India for a much awaited bilateral series between the arch rivals, DawnNews reported on Monday. However, keeping in view the recent mistreatment of Pakistanis including renowned Pakistani Singer, Ghulam Ali and former Foreign Minister Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri in India, he would oppose Pakistan’s visit to India, he told a select group of journalists in an informal talk here at Punjab House.

Before both sides start dealing with the details, the PCB is waiting for the BCCI to send a formal proposal which Khan had asked for from Manohar during their telephonic conversation last Friday.

There is another complication in the matter.

It is also believed that the two boards are at loggerheads with regards to broadcast rights with Pakistan having a tie-up with Ten Sports, while Star India have a pact with BCCI.

“I really do believe that if he is fit and delivering, there should be no reason or calls for him to leave the team”. But according to our initial agreement, the series was scheduled to take place in UAE and we should abide by that.

“We will not play cricket in India, I will oppose it”, he said. The whole arrangement of the contract stated that we were the broadcasters for the PCB, if they are the hosts.