Pakistan-India series: PCB calm despite negative speculation

Reports in Indian media claimed their govt has rejected proposal for tour

KARACHI: Senior officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are still optimistic regarding the chances of a Pakistan-India series despite reports in the Indian media suggesting that their government has rejected the proposal of a bilateral series in Sri Lanka in December.

Certain Indian TV channels ran the news but the PCB refused to be drawn into speculation, feeling that all these negative reports are just an attempt to sabotage the series.

“The PCB is still calm about the prospect of a bilateral series with India and we will not comment or act on the speculations surfacing in the Indian media,” a senior PCB official told The Express Tribune.

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“Senior officials of both boards met in the UAE, and there was very healthy dialogue so we’re confident,” he added. “Our government has taken the first step and hopefully the Indians will respond.”

Pakistan and India are expected to play in Sri Lanka from December 15 till January 3, and Sri Lanka Cricket has been intimated to get ready as well.

BCCI Chairman Shashank Manohar was expected to present the agenda before the board’s Working Committee in a meeting but a formal announcement is expected to be made by November 30.

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“We’ve seen in the past how events have changed within hours, so you never say never when it comes to the prospects of a series between Pakistan and India,” said the official. “Certain sections of the Indian media — which remain a minority — have always tried to divide the two cricketing nations. We will wait for the official word rather than reacting to these reports.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2015.

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