Indo-Pak cricket ties set to resume: Ijaz Butt

PCB rules out neutral venue, insists series be hosted at home.

KARACHI:

India and Pakistan have agreed to resume direct sporting ties, said reports, and India’s tour of Pakistan could be on the cards, according to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt. However, the Indian cricket board remained in the dark regarding any formal decision taken on this front.

The PCB chairman welcomed the ‘positive signals’ from India and said series details would be finalised by June.

“Getting positive signals on the resumption of a bilateral series is a good omen and Prime Minister Gilani has directed us to arrange the series as soon as possible,” said the chairman.

Prime Minister directs PCB

“We have to find a time slot and the series can be held in two phases, limited overs matches first and then the Tests,” said Butt. “The prime minister has directed us to host this series in Pakistan so we’re not looking at the option of a neutral venue.”

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it had yet to be formally notified of the decision to resume cricket ties.

“We haven’t received any government announcement  so the board hasn’t discussed the matter,” said BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratna Karshetty.

“I ‘ve only read in the newspapers [about resumption of Indo-Pak cricket ties],” said BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan.

Foreign batting coach

The PCB chief further revealed that the board is in talks with two foreign batting coaches after Javed Miandad turned down the position.

“We’re in talks with two foreign coaches but we can’t reveal their names at the moment,” said Ijaz. “While the coaches want to join the squad in the West Indies and serve for a short stint, we’re looking for a long-term coach.” (With additional reporting from AFP)

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th,  2011.