The PCB has lost hopes of a bilateral series with India early next year after getting a cold response from BCCI officials during the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Singapore this week. According to reports, it is unlikely that India will host Pakistan for the scheduled future tour program Test series in March-April next year. The reports said there were many hurdles in the way, including the organisation of the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, India’s packed international schedule and the Indian Premier League, which is due to start from second week of April. “The PCB officials who went to attend the ACC meeting and talked with Indian board officials on the sidelines didn’t get a very positive response about resumption of bilateral ties, including the scheduled series in India next year,” the report quoting PCB sources said. It said it was because of this that the Pakistan government had still not given permission to PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf, to travel to India this month for talks.
“Perhaps the Pakistan government has sensed the existing scenario and that is why Ashraf has still not got a green signal from concerned quarters to visit India,” reports claimed. Interestingly, the Asia Cup venue and dates were finalised last year when Indo-Pak relations were improving after the 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali. Pakistan’s PM travelled to Mohali for the match on the invitation of his Indian counterpart. The ACC meeting in Singapore discussed the dates for the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be held in March. Interestingly, the PCB has been insisting that the Asia Cup dates can be rescheduled if the BCCI confirms it will host Pakistan next year in March-April. “There is still hope that Pakistan and India might end up playing a one-day and T20 series in the short span of time available to the Indian board in March-April,” a source in the PCB said.
