BCCI Ready to Discuss Series Only if Pakistan Agree to Play in India: Anurag Thakur
Anurag Thakur, BCCI secretary, said Indian government would never allow the national cricket team to play against Pakistan in Pakistan or any other neutral venue
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur on Saturday said the Board is ready to resume discussions about cricketing ties with Pakistan only if they agree to play the proposed bilateral series in India. (Nothing Has Been Finalised on India-Pakistan Series: Shashank Manohar)
"We can only start talking if they agree to play in India," Thakur said. "It is not possible to play in Pakistan and a neutral venue as the Indian government would not give permission," he was quoted as saying by 'ESPNcricinfo'.
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan had earlier in the day claimed that BCCI has invited its team to play its 'home' series in India next month. (India have Invited Pakistan for Bilateral Series: Shahryar Khan)
Confirming the development, Thakur said BCCI had spoken to PCB about the series but they will be able to resume the discussion with the government only after Pakistan agree to India hosting the series.
"To keep the India-Pakistan series alive the BCCI has made an effort and spoken to the PCB [to see] if they are keen to play in India," he said.
"Then we can take matters forward, and we can talk and discuss with the [Indian] government and further work out the details of the series."
Earlier, BCCI President Manohar said that they have not even approached the government yet for clearance and any statement to this effect was not correct.
"It's an incorrect statement. We have not yet approached the government. Yes, I have talked to him over phone and we may talk again in the next couple of days," he said.
Interestingly, the chairman of PCB's executive committee Najam Sethi on Saturday told the media that he would advise the board not to accept any offer from BCCI to play the series in India.