Thaw at last, Indian board agrees for cricket series with Pakistan

MUMBAI: The Indian cricket board has written a letter to its government seeking approval for a bilateral series with Pakistan, which, if allowed could be played in Dubai later this year, Indian media has reported.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has written to the Home Ministry, seeking permission to play Pakistan to complete their obligations under the Future Tours & Programme (FTP) agreement which was inked in 2014, The Indian Express has said in a report published today.

Earlier, when it was headed by Shashank Manohar, the BCCI wanted to host Pakistan for a short series in 2016 but did not get government clearance owing to tension between the two countries and the subsequent terror attacks on Indian soil, it added.

“The Indian board is looking at a September or November window to play Pakistan. The BCCI had reserved September for the Champions League T20 but the tournament has been discontinued. It is learnt that the BCCI wants a short series in November in Dubai before the Indian tour of South Africa.”

“Permission has been sought from Home Ministry, we don’t know what is the government stand. Last time, tension between the two countries was at its peak. Also, there is the FTP agreement that needs to be fulfilled and that’s why the board is willing to travel to Dubai to play a series against Pakistan. Unless the government gives its nod, the BCCI cannot do anything,” a source told the newspaper.

The cricket has been affected badly due to the political tensions between the two countries. The BCCI has repeatedly made commitments but refused to play a bilateral series against Pakistan. Although both teams have faced each other at world cups and other multi-nation tournaments but last time they played a Test match was in 2007.

Many of the players in the teams have never played against each other.