Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has granted permission to the PCB for a bilateral cricket series against arch-rivals India in Sri lanka.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Indian Cricket Board (BCC) had proposed the series and approached their respective governments for clearance.
Official sources in the ministry of inter provincial coordination said that the Prime Minister gave the clearance before leaving for a official tour to Malta.
“The PM has responded to the letter sent to him by the PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan and he has said that Pakistan should play India in Sri lanka for a short series given the current security situation,” a source said.
“The PM made the point that while foreign teams are not playing in Pakistan, the security situation for Pakistanis in India is also not clear, so Sri lanka is a good option,” the source said.
A PM house statement was also quoted in the ‘Express Tribune’ which said, “Given the current security situation, PCB should hold short series with India at a third location.” It also said the PM House had sent a letter to the PCB granting them permission for the series and directing them to carefully view the security situation as well.
BCCI are yet to hear from the Indian government on the series.
On Tuesday, Sri lanka emerged as a neutral venue for the planned series which is likely to have three ODIs and two T20s, tentatively scheduled between December 15 and first week of January.
Both countries have not played Test cricket since 2007 but Pakistan toured India in winter of 2012-13 for a short limited-over series.
In New Delhi, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said he would welcome any move favouring resumption of cricket ties between the two countries.
“let’s see, obviously we would welcome if the governments decide,” Basit told reporters here.
‘keep cricket away from politics’
New Delhi: IPl Chairman Rajiv Shukla (in pic) on Thursday pushed for resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan, saying the game should not be brought into political controversies.
BCCI is awaiting response from the Indian government on the fate of a much-talked-about series next month while Pakistan Cricket Board has got the clearance from their government.
“I am optimistic that the government will give the go-ahead to us. Both the parties (Boards) have agreed for Sri lanka as a venue. The whole idea is to resume cricket between the two countries,” Shukla said.
Asked about voices that oppose the resumption of cricket ties, Shukla said cricket should be kept separate from politics.
“From day 1 I have been maintaining that cricket should not be brought into political controversy. Even the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee government had given the nod in worse situation for resumption of cricket. We had sent the Indian team to Pakistan. I think, we should play Pakistan,” Shukla told Times Now.
‘forget venue, play india’
Former fast bowling great Wasim Akram says that Pakistan should not mind playing the proposed series in India if the government gives the go ahead for the resumption of cricket ties.
The two Asian neighbours are expected to play at a neutral venue with Sri lanka emerging as the venue for the ODIs and T20s.
“It does not matter what the venue is and Pakistan can play in India if our government gives clearance. The main thing is that Indo-Pak cricket series should be resumed,” Akram said.
The former Pakistan captain said it was important to move forward in Indo-Pak cricket relations as nearly 10 crore people in both countries follow the contest between arch- rivals.
“It is important for both countries to play against each other in the larger interest of the game. And there is no doubt that if a series takes place soon it will strengthen the Pakistan cricket board financially,” Akram told Geo News channel.
The PCB said in a statement on Wednesday that there had been lot of speculations in the media since the meeting of the PCB and BCCI chiefs in Dubai with the President of the England and Wales Cricket Board Giles Clarke also present.
Akram’s push for having the series even in India comes at a time when the PCB reacted strongly to the national T20 skipper Shahid Afridi saying in the media that Pakistan could go and play in India if the PCB got good money for the series.