PCB Seeks Nawaz Sharif's Help to Organise India-Pakistan Bilateral Series
PCB chairman Najam Sethi has called Nawaz Sharif and told him that his government will have to convince Indian government for a cricket series between India and Pakistan.
The PCB chairman Najam Sethi has sought the support of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in turning a six bilateral series agreement with the Board of Control for Cricket in India into a reality.
Sethi called on the PM in Islamabad on Wednesday to brief him about the recent developments at the ICC annual meeting in Melbourne where the Pakistan and Indian boards signed the agreement to play six series starting from next year in the new future tours program.
"Najam Sethi made it clear to the prime minister that he and the government will have to fully support the PCB and play a big role in convincing the Indian government to give clearance for the series," a reliable source close to Sethi told PTI.
The BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel indicated yesterday that the first of the six series scheduled at a neutral venue in December, 2015 was subject to clearance from the Indian government.
"Sethi briefed the prime minister about the details off the agreement and said that it was important for Pakistan to resume playing India as this would eventually also bring back international cricket to Pakistan given India's dominant and influential role in world cricket," the source said.
"The PCB chief made it clear that without government support the PCB alone could not hope to host a series against India."
The source said Sethi had also informed the premier that hosting just one series against India next year would guarantee revenues in excess of $50 million for the cricket board.
According to the state owned wire service, APP, Nawaz Sharif who is also patron in chief of the PCB and who appointed Sethi into the board appreciated the board's efforts in bringing international cricket back to the country and extended his full support to the incumbent chief.