Goel rules out bilateral series with Pak

As long as Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorists, it will not be possible to have sporting ties between the two countries.

minister Vijay Goel has ruled out a bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Monday, the minister said “cricket and terrorism can’t go hand-in-hand.”

India and Pakistan, however, will play each other in the ICC Champions Trophy in UK next month. Both teams are in the same group and clash at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 4.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board officials are scheduled to meet in Dubai on Monday to discuss a bilateral series, but Goel’s message to BCCI is very clear.

“The BCCI should come up with a suggestion or proposal in this regard only after consulting the government. I had said earlier also that the possibilities of bilateral series with Pakistan are very remote,” Goel said.

“As long as Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorists, it will not be possible to have sporting ties between the two countries. Terrorism and sports will not run side by side,” he added.

According to the ICC Future Tours Programme, the Indian cricket team is scheduled to play Pakistan in a bilateral series later this year but hostilities from across the border are likely to scupper any chance of an India vs Pakistan cricket series.

BCCI and PCB had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

Earlier this month, the PCB had sent a notice of dispute to the Indian board, claiming losses for the BCCI’s refusal to tour in 2015.