By: Tarish Bhatt
Pakistan may have rejected BCCI’s proposal of playing a cricket series in India due to security reasons, but the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) hasn’t really ruled out a possible series between the archrivals.
According to BCCI sources, the board bigwigs are ruling out the option of playing the proposed series in a neutral venue, after dismissing Pakistan’s proposal of playing the high-profile series in the UAE.
Sources said that BCCI president Shashank Manohar could meet PCB chief Shahryar Khan within days and seal the fate of the series. In that meeting, BCCI boss is also likely to explain why India are against playing in the UAE and the choices of neutral venues.
Sources added that neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been shortlisted to host the much-awaited series between India and Pakistan.
Earlier, the series between India and Pakistan was all but over, especially, after the former rejected the BCCI proposal to play the series in India. Still, the BCCI mandarins didn’t want to break away the bilateral agreement (signed between the two nations).
“Now the ball is in Pakistan’s court for one last time. If PCB doesn’t agree to play India in a neutral venue, the series may not happen at all,” the source added.
If the series between India and Pakistan does’t happens, a few of the top cricketers may take part in some of the domestic games before flying to Australia for a ODI series.
After that, India are supposed to host Sri Lanka for a series at home before the World T20 is played on Indian soil for the first time.
