Pakistan Cricket Board Will Wait For Two More Days, Before Calling Off India Series: Shahryar Khan
Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan said though chances of the India-Pakistan series taking place is already bleak, they would still wait for a final confirmation from the Indian government
With time running out for the proposed India-Pakistan cricket series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would call off the much-talked-about rubber if the Indian government does not give its approval in the next couple of days. (India Won't Play With Us: Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Shahryar Khan)
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan said the PCB would wait for a day or two before shelving plans for the short limited-overs series which was planned this month in Sri Lanka. (Can't Play Cricket With Pakistan When People Are Dying On Border: BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur)
"After that the series will be off," he said. Khan said chances of the series being organised now were very bleak, since the resumption of cricketing ties between the two countries was not discussed by Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj during her meetings with Pakistani officials in Islamabad on Wednesday. (Sri Lanka Offer Neutral Venue for India-Pakistan Series)
"To be honest the chances of the series being held now are very bleak. We have been told cricket was not discussed in the meeting between the Indian foreign minister and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif," Khan said. (BCCI Could Face Legal Ramifications)
"If the series is not held we stand to lose out on around $40 to 50 million and we had already started making preparations for the series in Sri Lanka which included hotel bookings. (Pakistan Threaten to Pull Out of 2016 T20 World Cup)
"We were hopeful that there would be good news but that has not happened. We are disappointed."
Khan said the PCB will review its future policies and brief its governing board members on the developments. "Not having the Indian series is a big setback for us financially. And we were expecting that the Indian board would get clearance from its government as they have signed a proper MOU with us. We also need to look at the future of the rest of the series laid out in this document."
To a question, Khan said Pakistan's participation in the World T20 in India in March will depend on getting permission from its government.
"The government had given clearance for us to play a short series with India in Sri Lanka but that has not happened so far," he added.