‘Pakistan-India series likely next year’

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems to have managed a big breakthrough in its bid to revive a bilateral series against India after its chairman Ijaz Butt held fruitful meetings with the newly-elected International Cricket Council (ICC) President Sharad Pawar. A PCB official confirmed that Butt, during the recently-concluded Annual Conference week in Singapore, discussed scheduling a bilateral series with India next year.

“The Pakistan-India bilateral series is on the cards after Pawar assured revival of the events between the two countries,” said the official while adding that the series is unlikely to be held this year due to a hectic international schedule.

“The bilateral series can only be scheduled for next year after the 2011 World Cup as there is no space available before it,” added the official. Next year’s World Cup will be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19 to April 2.

Meanwhile, Butt was also assured by the new ICC chief that he would help Pakistan in every possible way for revival of international cricket in Pakistan following a terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore in March 2009.

“Pawar has also assured all-out support for revival of international matches in Pakistan as the new ICC president wants this to happen during his tenure,” said the official.

When contacted, the PCB chief confirmed the positive development but declined to give any further details.

“We did have meaningful meetings but I can’t go into details as I have to follow the ICC code of conduct”, Butt told The Express Tribune.

The chairman also defended PCB’s move to support the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) stance in which the Asian bloc along with the South African and Zimbabwean cricket boards successfully blocked the nomination of former Australian prime minster John Howard as the ICC’s vice president.

“It’s not only the PCB that wants friendly ties with India, it’s the whole country,” said Butt pointing out last month’s meeting between the foreign secretaries of the two countries.

The last time these two neighbouring countries  played a bilateral series was in December 2007 when India hosted Pakistan for a five-match series.

Butt silent on Speed’s remarks

Showing an indifferent reaction to former ICC chief Malcom Speed’s remarks, Butt said that he did not want to comment on them.

Speed, while reacting on Howard’s failed bid, criticised the BCCI and the PCB - calling it a ‘politically motivated move’ after the two boards blocked his nomination.

“It was a nonsense statement and I don’t want to comment on it. It’s like giving importance to one who has no significance”, said the chairman while adding that remarks from a person who currently does not hold any position are weightless.

“He may be the former chief executive but his remarks are not worthy anymore,” said Butt.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2010.