Pakistan Cricket Board Once Again Rules Out Playing India in India
According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Pakistan Cricket Board in 2014, this is Pakistan's turn to play host. For security reasons, Pakistan play their home matches in the UAE.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan has once again reiterated that Pakistan national team won't play December series in India. Speaking to the media in Dubai on Friday, Khan said the scheduled series has become a "political matter" and "the final call remains with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif." (BCCI to Take a Call on December Series Soon)
"We have said that we won't play in India and have also given out reasons. Now the matter has become political. Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) has said that he wants to take the final call on the series. PCB won't decide on the series anymore. We have put PCB'S stand before the PM and the BCCI," Khan said. (Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif Wants Cricket With India)
The PCB chairman is expected to meet Board of Control for Cricket in India president Shashank Manohar on the sidelines of an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting and discuss the fate of the series. Manohar is adamant that India will play the series only if Pakistan visit India. The Indian Board has ruled out playing in the UAE, Pakistan's 'home' in recent years.
"We wanted the series to go on but India is not honoring the FTP. We are not going to come down on our knees and beg. India has not played for eight years. Even if they don't play for a few more years, we will survive," Khan added.
According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board in 2014, this is Pakistan's turn to play host.
"Former England cricket chairman Giles Clarke is trying to make the series happen. Yesterday, he told me that this series must go on in the interest of cricket. A Pakistan vs India series is vital for cricket," he said.
(With inputs from Rica Roy)