Shahryar meets Shashank: PCB, BCCI ready to resolve tensions

PCB chairman expects reply on UAE series in December by the end of this month

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan believes his meeting with the new Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Shashank Manohar has resulted in a better understanding between the two boards.

Shahryar, who was addressing the media on his return from the International Cricket Council meeting, said Shashank assured him that with his recent appointment, cricketing relations between PCB and the BCCI will move towards betterment.

Shahryar quoted Shashank as saying:”I  believe that relations between Pakistan and India should be good. We are ready to bring to the table all the issues and solve them.”

The PCB chief said he was invited for a meeting next week to discuss all issues between the two boards. He added that he was waiting for the invitation after the finalisation of venue and date of the meetings.

Read: Pakistan-India series bigger than Ashes, says Zaheer Abbas

He further added that India would be replying either positively or negatively on the December series soon.

“I am hopeful after the ICC meetings that India will soon send their answer about the series in December. It will come in by the end of October. If it is a yes, then there cannot be anything better but if it is a no then we will have to consider further options.

“Earlier, there was no sign of even a reply but now things have changed. The BCCI is awaiting government approval on the series which is very important in any case as per Shashank’s thinking. However, I told him the Pakistan government has no issues with the series taking place and Prime Miniter Nawaz Sharif clarified that in his New York speech.”

Shahryar said he also asked the ICC to play its role in the revival of Pakistan-India cricket matches as it is beneficial for all parties involved.

“I told the ICC we will have to bear financial losses if the scheduled UAE series between Pakistan and India is postponed. It is now all about whether India will respect their signature on the MoU that they have signed with Pakistan.”

Read: Shahryar Khan still hopeful of Pakistan-India series

He added that he questioned the world body over lack of presence in the Zimbabwe series.

“I asked the ICC to show more visibility in the events that happen in Pakistan. I didn’t see ICC involved in the Zimbabwe series in Pakistan. It felt like ICC had no interest. I asked them to convene an ICC meeting in Lahore; we will provide them security arrangements for it. I also requested them to use their influence in convincing India to play the bilateral series.”

Moreover, the PCB chief met with officials from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa and Zimbabwe and requested them to send their U19, Women’s and A teams to visit Pakistan if they were hesitant to send their main team. He said that the Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team had already visited Pakistan and Sri Lanka is also setting up teams to send to the country.

Another important matter that Shahryar discussed was the arrival of the Commonwealth team, which will be composed of active players from all the countries, including India.

Read: PCB would support BCCI in matters of mutual interest, says Shahryar to Shashank

"I also discussed the arrival of the Commonwealth team’s arrival in Pakistan with the Pakistan Task Force committee head Giles Clark. He will be visiting the country next month, in November to see the security arrangements. Meanwhile, we are working on the administrative and financial details of the tour which will most probably take place in September next year,” he said.