Although there are three proposal of playing cricket series against India, but the slow response of the Board of Control for Cricket in India is irritating the Pakistan Cricket Board, which is struggling to resume cricketing ties with India. Reports coming from across the border say that it is the Indian government which is responsible for the cold response to Pakistan’s call of the resumption of sporting ties at all levels.
Even though the PCB and BCCI have agreed to begin cricket at the under-19 and women level series but there have not been any progress at this stage set aside at the national level.
The PCB has also floated an idea of playing the series at a neutral venue.
PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said that his government has been very positive and supportive to play with India and has no objection to Pakistan touring India.
However, the BCCI has so far not replied to different suggestions made by the PCB despite the icebreaking meeting between the two board chiefs at Chennai during IPL finals and later on the sidelines of the ICC meeting at Kuala Lumpur.
PCB chief Ashraf further said that Srinivasan, BCCI chief refrained from giving a straight answer to his query on the matter at Kuala Lumpur.
He has strongly urged the Indian government to give a No objection in writing to the BCCI so that play can be resumed at the earliest. This would help in making the relations between the two countries more cordial.
Positive developments such as the invitation to Pakistan’s T20 winners Sialkot Stallions by the Champions League T20 governing council for October 2012 will immeasurably aid in ensuring early resumption of the series.
Ashraf said that Pakistan is ready to play its home-series in India to ensure a start of the bilateral series, and even there was a proposal to use India as a neutral venue for Pakistan’s home series with other countries, which was raised during the recent Joint Secretary level talks.
The ball is in Mr Srinivasan’s, the BCCI and the government of India’s hands to reciprocate.
