The Borneo Post

Pakistan, India square off over botched cricket agreement

-

DUBAI: Pakistan and India squared off at the legal crease at a hearing at the Internatio­nal Cricket Council headquarte­rs in Dubai Monday after the two sides failed to honour a deal to compete in several bilateral series.

The Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB) is demanding 70 million dollars in compensati­on from India, claiming that a memorandum of understand­ing signed in 2014 had guaranteed six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

However the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) have said they are unable to play against Pakistan until their government gives them permission and dismissed the agreement as not legally binding.

The hearing is set to last until Oct 3.

ICC’s chief executive David Richardson last week urged the two nations to resolve the matter between themselves rather than seeking arbitratio­n.

“It is a matter between India and Pakistan. We would like the resumption of ties between the two nations on a bilateral basis,” said Richardson.

“We will facilitate any settlement decision if we can. Other than that, it is up to the two nations.”

India-Pakistan ties, including sports and cultural contacts, plummeted after the 2008 militant attacks in Mumbai, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistani militant groups.

There has been just one bilateral tour since, when Pakistan visited India to play two Twenty20s and three one- day internatio­nals in December 2012 and January 2013.

Pakistan and India continue to play each other in internatio­nal events, including last month’s Asia Cup in Dubai.

India won that event while Pakistan failed to reach the final.

 ?? — AFP photo ?? Pakistan cricketer Shaheen Shah Afridi (left) celebrates with teammates after he dismissed Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim during the one day internatio­nal (ODI) Asia Cup cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in this Sept 26 file photo.
— AFP photo Pakistan cricketer Shaheen Shah Afridi (left) celebrates with teammates after he dismissed Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim during the one day internatio­nal (ODI) Asia Cup cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in this Sept 26 file photo.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Malaysia