Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan after his team’s famous Champions Trophy triumph over India has taken a dig at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Khan, at a ceremony hosted by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad to honour the Champions Trophy winners, said, “after our win, we challenge India to come and play bilateral cricket with us. They don’t play us; they are scared of our team. They say we’ll play you in ICC matches but they won’t play us otherwise,” he was quoted as saying by the local media.
Pakistan who are the unexpected winners of the 2017 Champions Trophy handed the men in blue a shocking 180 runs defeat in the final.
India although had defeated the rivals in the league stage but in the summit clash the Virat Kohli and his troops failed to fire.
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13, and since 2007 they have not played a full-fledged Test series. In 2014, the two countries had signed a MoU after which the two countries were supposed to play five bilateral series from 2015 till 2023.
This year, the PCB has sent a legal notice to the BCCI which states that the Indian Board owes the PCB USD 60 million (Rs 387 crore approx) for not honouring the 2014 MoU.
The decision to not to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan was taken under former Board President Anurag Thakur in 2015 after Pakistan sponsored terror strikes rocked India.
Pakistan cricket has suffered immensely after the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team that took place in 2009. No cricket country has toured Pakistan since then and a desperate PCB is begging cricket boards to send their teams to play.
The PCB Chief believes Pakistan’s recent performance at the Champions Trophy could change their fortunes.
“After this win, every team will want to play us. They should now come to Pakistan, there is complete security. God-willing, teams will start coming. We are in negotiations with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and West Indies. They can send their teams first for a short tour, maybe for just T20Is.” Khan said.
It seems highly doubtful that bilateral cricket ties will resume in the near future between the two countries with the political environment not favourable to playing cricket.
He is trying every trick in the book.
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