No decision yet on Pakistan-India series: Indian foreign ministry

Less than a day after reports of governments of both countries giving a green signal for a Pakistan-India cricket series in Sri Lanka, the Indian foreign ministry said that no decision has been taken on the much-anticipated series.

"Update on queries regarding Cricket Series: No decision has been taken on the India-Pakistan cricket series," Indian External Affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said in a tweet sent out late Thursday night.

Indian media had reported on Thursday that the country's government has given a green signal to its cricket board for the proposed series next month. BCCI senior official Rajeev Shukla said the much-anticipated India-Pakistan series will happen tentatively from December 15 at the neutral venue.

"India-Pakistan series will happen tentatively from Dec 15 in Sri Lanka. Both the countries have agreed upon it," Shukla was quoted as saying.

"Around five matches will mark the resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan in Sri Lanka," he had said.

But Swarap's tweet casts fresh doubts on the fate of the already delayed series between the two teams.

Update on queries regarding Cricket Series: No decision has been taken on the India-Pakistan cricket series

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) November 26, 2015

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already given the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) clearance for a shortened series at the neutral venue of Sri Lanka.

Also read: PM Sharif gives go-ahead for Pakistan-India cricket series in Sri Lanka

The cricket boards of Pakistan and India have been in a deadlock for months over a venue for the series. India had refused to play in the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan's home away from home, and Pakistan rejected the prospect of playing the series in India.

Giles Clarke, who heads International Cricket Council's Pakistan Task Force, organized a meeting between PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and BCCI president Shashank Manohar last week in Dubai, where Sri Lanka was chosen as the possible venue, pending clearance from both governments.

If both sides agree to play in Sri Lanka, the series will mark the resumption of bilateral cricketing ties between the two nations. Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral series since 2007. Cricketing ties were stalled between the two countries following the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.