NO BILATERAL INDOPAK CRICKET SERIES, SAYS SPORTS MINISTER
NEWDELHI/DUBAI: The frozen bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan are unlikely to resume anytime soon after sports minister Vijay Goel ruled out any resumption until “cross-border terrorism” did not stop.
Officials of the Indian and Pakistan Boards met in Dubai on Monday to discuss their ties, which remain suspended since 2012 due to tension in the wake of terror attacks in India. But it failed to yield any outcome.
Goel told reporters in New Delhi: “BCCI should speak to the government before giving any proposal to Pakistan. I have made it clear that bilateral cricket with Pakistan is not possible till the time there is cross-border terror. We have no say on multilateral events.”
OF LITTLE INTEREST
The minister’s statement rendered the Dubai meeting inconsequential as the BCCI has said it would play Pakistan in a bilateral series only if the government gave its go ahead.
“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,” BCCI joint secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement.
The BCCI, represented by
I have made it clear bilateral cricket with Pakistan is not possible till the time there is crossborder terror. We have no say on multilateral events. VIJAY GOEL, On playing Pakistan
Choudhary, the acting secretary, CEO Rahul Johri and GM (Cricket Operations) MV Sridhar discussed the compensation demanded by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
LEGAL NOTICE
The PCB has sent a legal notice to BCCI claiming damages of around $60 million (R387 crore approx), claiming it has not honoured the MoU between the two bodies to play five bilateral series in the 2015-2023 cycle.
The cash-strapped PCB’s finances heavily depend on a series with India.
Pakistan has not hosted a major bilateral series since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009.
There was some plan of playing a short, limited-overs series in September, when Champions League T20 used to be held.
It is learnt BCCI is unlikely to pay any damages as its stand has always been that government clearance is mandatory when it comes to playing Pakistan.