PCB OPPOSES BCCI’S NEW FTP, THREATENS IT WON’T SIGN IT

MUMBAI: The prospect of an on-field battle between India and Pakistan appears bleak. However, an off-field war of words between top officials is getting intense. After the BCCI chose not to include any bilateral matches with Pakistan in its proposed FTP for 2019-2023 during its special general meeting on Monday, PCB took objection, saying it would not sign the document unless India agree to play. PCB has already approached the ICC and initiated a Dispute Resolution Process against the BCCI for not honouring its commitment. “The PCB has informed the ICC that it has initiated a dispute resolution process against the BCCI under the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee Terms of Reference,” a PCB release said. “Further to that, the PCB’S claim is based on an existing agreement with the BCCI which contemplates that India will tour Pakistan in December 2019, August 2020 and Nov-dec 2022 and Pakistan will tour India in Nov-dec 2021,” it added. The BCCI, on its part, is in no mood of budging, saying India would not play Pakistan outside ICC events unless the government approves it. “It is something which...it is a question which is embedded not in the matrix of cricket alone. That is publicly recognised. Unless you put together all factors that determine an event, it is futile attempting to answer that question,” the BCCI’S acting secretary, Amitabh Chaudhary was quoted as saying.