Pakistan Reportedly Threatening to Boycott India If December Series Does Not Take Place
With growing uncertainty over the proposed Pakistan - India series in December, PCB chairman Shahryar Khan has threatened if the series does not take place, the team would boycott India in ICC and Asian Cricket Council events.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: September 25, 2015 11:22 am IST
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shahryar Khan has threatened to boycott India in ICC and Asian Cricket Council events if the BCCI officially refused to play the proposed series against Pakistan in December, according to a report. (Pakistan Will Not Ask India For Bilateral Series Anymore)
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In a hard-hitting statement, Shahryar said it was disappointing that until now the BCCI had not even sought permission for the December series from the concerned ministry in India. (Pakistan Will Not Beg India for Bilateral Series)
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"Nothing is final or decided as yet but if the Indian Board officially backs out of the series, then we have the option of boycotting all matches against them in ICC and ACC events as well," Shahryar was quoted as saying by 'Express' newspaper.
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He said that with December approaching, the BCCI needs to come out with a clear reply to the letter sent by the PCB regarding the status of the proposed series.
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"I sent the letter on 28 August and I am still waiting for a reply. They (the BCCI) should tell us whether they want to play the series or not. Because if they say they don't have government clearance and refuse to play the series, then we reserve the right to act against the Indian Board for not honoring an agreement at every level," Shahryar said.
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The PCB chief also said that since the secretary of the BCCI -- Anurag Thakur -- was a politician, that was why he was giving negative statements on Indo-Pak relations.
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Shahryar made it clear that if the BCCI backed out of the MoU signed for the proposed series, then Pakistan would have to consider several options and one of them could be the refusal to play against India in ICC and ACC events or at any level.
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"I am not saying we have decided to do this or we will do it but certainly if we don't get to host our home series in December, then we have to consider appropriate action as well," he said.
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India and Pakistan have not played against each other since 2007, the last time the two countries played a proper bilateral Test series.
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Pakistan toured India in late 2012 for a short one-day series, and apart from that tour, the two countries have only played against each other in ICC or ACC events.