PCB, BCCI to discuss strained bilateral cricket ties

Meeting will take place on December 17 in Colombo

KARACHI: An important meeting of Pakistan and India’s cricket authorities will take place on December 17  in Colombo, Sri Lanka to hold a straightforward discussion on the lull-stricken relations between the two nations.

The Indian authorities have already brought forward different options, including the option of a triangular series, but Pakistan is not interested to being decoyed now.

A meeting of the Asian Cricket Council is scheduled in Colombo next month which will be held under the chairmanship of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan. PCB officials Najam Sethi and Subhan Ahmed are also expected to attend the meeting.

According to sources, PCB has decided to take up bilateral matches with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Anurag Thakur. In case they do not receive a positive response there, legal options will be considered.



According to reports, Najam Sethi previously held a detailed discussion with Thakur when he visited South Africa to participate in an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting due to unavailability of Shaharyar Khan.

ICC, on the complaint of Pakistan about India not playing the women’s matches, suggested that a committee be formed, but Pakistan did not agree to the proposal and held the matches as forfeited, demanding six points instead.

Thakur told Sethi the Indian government was not in favour of bilateral cricket series with Pakistan, however, triangular series was an option.



Nevertheless, Pakistan raised the question that how India could participate in such an event while it was not eager to participate in ICC events, with Indian authorities taking different stances in ICC meetings and before the media. It was concluded that a further discussion on the matter will be held in Colombo.

Now Pakistan have six points in women’s championship and in this backdrop, the meeting next month has become very significant.

PCB authorities are of the view that if India does not play the series, according to its promises, then Pakistan will go for a legal course to recover the financial losses and ICC will also be made a party to the dispute.

Pakistani board hopes that BCCI will not boycott the Women’s Asia Cup, but India is silent on the issue.