India-Pakistan series cannot happen
After the BCCI stressed their reluctance to host the Asia
Cup with Pakistan as a participant, the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket
Board, Shaharyar Khan, has revealed that as long as the political tensions
between the two teams exists, there is not a chance that the two teams will
face each other in a bilateral series.
The two teams haven’t played a series against each other
after the 2008 terror attack in India. In 2014, the two boards—PCB and BCCI—signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the two teams will lock horns against
each other in 6 bilateral series to be played between 2015 and 2023, which was
subject to approval from the Government of India.
And that is where the problem lies, according to Shaharyar
Khan, and not the two boards.
"The real reason behind the absence of India and
Pakistan bilateral series is political and has nothing to do with either the
PCB or the BCCI.
“In the current political climate, I really do not see any
way in the near future that both teams will be able to play each other.
“The fact of the matter is that we have always been willing
to play India anywhere, but it's the government of India who have prevented the
BCCI from playing against us and there is not much we can do about that," Pakpassion.net
quoted Shaharyar as saying.
The former PCB chief has refused to point fingers at the
BCCI because they, according to him, tried their best, but couldn’t convince
their nation’s government for permission.
"I know for a fact that BCCI tried to convince their
government and explained to them that there would be a loss of revenue for both
India and Pakistan.
“However, the Government of India has stuck by its stand
that unless the political climate improves; there can be no resumption of
cricketing relations between both countries.
“They will simply not allow it," he added.
However, like every cricket fan, Khan hoped that things
would get better between the two nations and the real sufferers—the fans of the
game—would finally be able to witness these two eternal rivals play each other
in a bilateral series.
But right now, there is no hope.
"I am hopeful for the future and hope things can change
but at this time, there is no chance of any Pakistan-India cricket contact in a
bilateral context," he said.
"We will continue to play India in ICC tournaments as
we did in the Champions Trophy and so on, but no Test or limited overs series
will be played between the two countries in the foreseeable future," he
added.
