MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket India [BCCI] is seeking permission from the Indian government to host a series against Pakistan in Dubai later this year, the Indian Express reported.
According to the newspaper, BCCI wrote to the Indian Homes Ministry asking them to play Pakistan to “complete their obligation under the Future Tours & Programme [FTP] agreement” of 2014.
The news daily further reveals that the Indian team is ready to travel to Dubai – Pakistan’s home venue, to play the series.
“Permission has been sought from Home Ministry; we don’t know what the government stand is. Last time, the tension between the two countries was at its peak. Also, there is the FTP agreement that needs to be fulfilled and that’s why the board is willing to travel to Dubai to play a series against Pakistan. Unless the government gives its nod, the BCCI cannot do anything,” officials told the Indian Express.
It is pertinent here to mention that BCCI had signed MoU with PCB to play six bilateral series in return for Pakistan’s support to Big Three. PCB fulfilled its promise afterwards but BCCI did not complete its commitment.
Owing to BCCI’s continuous disinterest, PCB chief Shahryar Khan announced to take BCCI to court for not playing the bilateral series.
Shahryar Khan had explained that PCB is suffering a loss of $100 million per series which is not bearable. The chairman said that PCB intends to go to court for compensation of this damage as there are no chances of series against India this year as well.
Due to tensions between the two countries, the government previously refused to give NOC when the board, headed by Shashank Manohar, asked to host a short series in 2016.
The BCCI has given a September-November window to play arch-rivals since the Champions League T20 tournament in September was discontinued, clearing Indian team’s schedule until it heads for the South Africa tour.
