Sarfaraz Nawaz. PHOTO: FILE
Just a few hours after it emerged that the Pakistan government has given PCB the go-ahead to host a Pak-India series in Sri Lanka, reports in the Indian media claimed that the neighbouring country’s government has done likewise.
Senior BCCI official and Indian Premier League chairman Rajeev Shukla said the much-anticipated series will commence tentatively from December 15, adding that around five limited-over matches will be played.
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Sarfraz Nawaz, who was an integral part of the first Pakistan side to defeat India in a Test series, felt the announcement should have come from the PCB rather than the BCCI. “It is great news that the Pak-India series is back on once again but I feel the PCB should have announced the dates rather than the BCCI,” he said.
The 66-year-old praised the Pakistan government for playing a positive role in the resumption of the series, adding that India should do the same.
The former fast-bowler also suggested Pakistan-India series can be assigned a name, as they are just as significant in the cricketing calendar as the Ashes.
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Meanwhile, a PCB official also felt it was strange that the announcement came from the visiting board. “The BCCI should not have rushed into announcing the dates as we should be doing that for our home series,” he said.
While many feel that the series should have been held at Pakistan’s traditional home away from home, the UAE, former captain Amir Sohail sees no harm in the series being held in Sri Lanka. “The only thing that matters is that the series goes ahead,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2015.
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