India-Pak series: No call without government nod, states Thakur

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to obtain permission from the government to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan.

“We don’t have clearance from the government. We will not take any cricketing decision without the government’s permission,” Anurag Thakur, BCCI secretary, told HT on Monday regarding the proposed bilateral series in December.

The BCCI had signed an MoU last year with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play six series between 2015 and 2017. According to it, Pakistan is to host India for Tests, One-Day Internationals and Twenty20s in the United Arab Emirates in December.

But given the current political situation, the series seems unlikely.

“If you are talking about the December series, in today’s atmosphere, situation, for me to say that it will happen is not easy. Till talks with the central government and between the two countries do not happen, it is not possible,” said Thakur.

The last time Pakistan played a Test series in India was in 2007, which the hosts 1-0. Following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, India cut its sporting ties with Pakistan though both countries played a one-day series in 2012.

“It is evident what led to this situation. The world knows it. The situation in Pakistan is not that you can go and play there. Then where do you play Pakistan? It is not only about the MoU but also about the prevalent conditions and relationship we enjoy today,” said Thakur.

A senior BCCI official confirmed that there are no plans for talks with the PCB in the coming days.

“When secretaries of both the countries are not meeting and the planned meeting had to be cancelled, how can the BCCI talk to the PCB? We will not take any step without the permission of the union minister,” he said.