Says cricketing ties with the neighbouring country were not likely to resume anytime soon. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
In response to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asking permission from the government if India could play a series with Pakistan in Dubai later in 2017, the Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said that cricketing ties with the neighbouring country were not likely to resume anytime soon.
BCCI seeks government permission to play Pakistan later this year
“In the current circumstances cricket between India and Pakistan is not possible”, the minister told reporters outside the Indian parliament.
Under the Future Tours and Programme (FTP) agreement in 2014, the Indian cricket board has to complete its obligations. As per the FTP agreement, November was reserved for Pak-India cricket series, said the Indian newspaper.
“It is procedure which the board has to follow. If we want to play Pakistan we can’t get up one day and say, we will be playing them. We need the government’s clearance way in advance so that we can plan it out,” according to a BCCI official.
The BCCI official added that if New Delhi did not allow them to play against Pakistan, then they could at least convey a message to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that they tried fulfilling their part of the deal.
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About the Indian cricket board considering Dubai as a venue, the official said. “If the government gives a green signal then the BCCI will decide where to play. If there is no approval from the government then we can invite other countries to play in that particular window. That is why the board had sent a letter to the ministry to clear their stand with regards to playing Pakistan.”
The Indian Express reported on Wednesday that BCCI had sought permission from the Indian Home Ministry to play a series against Pakistan in Dubai later this year.
The newspaper also claimed that the Indian team was ready to travel to Dubai to take on their arch-rivals.
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