Truth is India doesn't want to play Pakistan, says former PCB chairman

Former PCB chairman believes that BCCI involve their government only in matches concerned against Pakistan

KARACHI: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has declared that the current PCB management should stop expending their energy in trying to arrange a tournament against India as ‘it would never happen.’

"It is a waste of time. It is never going to happen because the Indian board is not interested in playing against us. They use the excuse of their government's permission all the time to not play us," Butt told Press Trust of India recently.

Butt, whose tenure as PCB head from 2008 to 2012 was mired with controversy, believes with certainty that the Indian cricket board, BCCI, would not agree to play in Pakistan in December.

"The Indians playing us at an offshore venue is out of the question. The truth is they don't want to play us.

“When I was chairman we even offered to play our home series in India if we got to keep the revenues but they flatly refused," he recalled.

The former Test batsman said BCCI’s decision to not play in Pakistan was based on ill-feelings harboured between the two nations since independence.

"We may talk about friendship all the time but the fact is the Indian cricket officials have always tried to hurt us in every way possible.

"Ethically they owe us at least two home series but they will not play even now," Butt said.

He noted that interestingly, a series against Pakistan is the only instance in which the BCCI thinks to involve its government.

"It is nothing but a delaying tool and our board should not waste their energy and time. Pakistan cricket has shown, despite so many problems since the last few years that it can stand and survive on its own feet."

Butt said that by treating Pakistani players as outcasts in the Indian Premier League since 2008, the Indians had showcased their true feelings about Pakistan cricket.

"There have been so many incidents in recent times where the Indians have treated our sportsmen or women unjustly and been violent but we have tolerated all that and we still talk about revival of bilateral series. It is a waste of time."

He advised the PCB to be clear about its stance on relations with India.

"The Indians always wanted to control world cricket and now they are doing that with the help of Australia and England in the ICC. They control the finances now. This is why despite everything, N Srinivasan remains the chairman of the world body."

Butt, under whose term the 2010 spot-fixing scandal took place and militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, also ruled out the possibility of the PCB launching the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 event.

"The PSL is a very costly project and you can only hope to recover the money if the top players of the world come to play in the PSL and I don’t see that happening for many reasons. So I don’t see the league being held."