Pakistan in December. However, since it’s not possible to play them in Pakistan or the UAE, we have to look at playing the series in Northern India in December,” Manohar was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
“To play against Pakistan we need to get government permission. So we need to speak to the government and abide by whatever decision the government takes.”
Manohar failed to mention the fact that his team is supposed to play a full-fledged series including Tests as agreed upon between the two boards last year on the sidelines of an International Cricket Council (ICC) annual conference in Melbourne.
Pakistan and India have not played a full bilateral series against each other since 2007, though Pakistan toured India for a short limited-overs series in 2012.
Next month’s series is one of six agreed between the PCB and BCCI under a MoU signed last year.
Meanwhile, Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, has warned that time is running out.
“We did our best, now it is in their hands. But as time runs out, obviously chances of the series being held are very slim,” Shaharyar Khan was quoted as saying in a report.
“We have made it clear we want to play the series as per the MoU signed with the BCCI. The Indian board last told us they were waiting for clearance from their government which was busy in the elections. Let us see what happens now.
“”We are expecting some response from BCCI today or tomorrow after their Annual General Body Meeting,” he said.
Shaharyar stressed that an overwhelming majority of people in Pakistan and India support an Indo-Pak series.
“I know there are a lot of people even in India who want the series to happen, but we have done our part now, I would like the BCCI President Shashank Manohar to contact me himself,” he said.
Shaharyar also made it clear that if Indian government does not give the permission for the series, he does not expect his own government to give them the permission to participate in the T20 World Cup in India.
“One thing is clear, if their government does not allow them to play the series, then I don’t think our government would encourage us to go to India for any event.”