The Pakistan Cricket Board has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in Indi (BCCI) to host a home series of the Pakistan cricket team in India. Indian media quoting sources claimed that the chairman of the Pakistan cricket board, Zaka Ashraf, made the offer to his Indian counterpart, N Srinivasan, on the sidelines of the ICC meeting in Dubai. The report said: “Ashraf told Srinivasan that Pakistan would be willing to play its future home series on Indian soil if the Indian board was ready to play hosts”. According to the report the PCB chairman told the India board president and ICC (International Cricket Council) that they would pay for all the expenses involved in the venture if India agreed to host Pakistan’s home series. The report continued, “Clearly Ashraf wants resumption of bilateral cricket with India and believes if India agrees to play host to Pakistan’s home matches, the ice will break between the two boards”. The Green-shirts, since 2009, have been forced to play all their home series at neutral venues as foreign teams have declined to come to Pakistan because of security reasons. It played its home matches mostly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and even in England and New Zealand in a bid to ensure that the team is not deprived of international game. The Green-shirts will be playing a home one-day international series against Australia in Sri Lanka in August after the Aussies refused to tour the country. Since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the Indian board has avoided any bilateral cricket relations with Pakistan. The report added, “Ashraf has the backing of the Pakistan government in his endeavours and he apparently had a pleasant discussion with the Indians in Dubai”. Recently Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, also called for resumption of regular bilateral cricket ties with India, insisting this would prove beneficial not only to both countries but also to the world of cricket. Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif also called for reviving cricketing ties between Pakistan and India to help improve relations between the two countries.
