Pak-India series: PCB demands $70 million in compensation from BCCI

DUBAI - Pakistan has demanded $70 million in compensation from India for not honouring the MoU signed between the two countries in 2014 for a bilateral series.

The demand follows a scheduled meeting of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials in Dubai on Monday to discuss a bilateral series.

BCCI and PCB had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

Earlier this month, the PCB had sent a notice of dispute to the Indian board, claiming losses for the BCCI’s refusal to tour in 2015. However, the BCCI rejected the Pakistan’s demand for compensation for not honouring the MoU signed between them in 2014, saying that it was not legally binding. The Indian board also added that the nations couldn’t play because of the government’s non-clearance.

“We still remain committed to playing, but the position doesn’t change: the series cannot go ahead without the permission of the government of India,” the BCCI added.

On Monday, India’s Sports minister Vijay Goel ruled out a bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, the minister said “cricket and terrorism can’t go hand-in-hand.”

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan insisted that the MoU was a proper contract signed in 2014 as India had sought support for the Big Three governance and financial model system.

"The MoU was signed with the knowledge of the ICC. We will send them another letter and if they don’t respond positively to our compensation demand or to play series then we have completed our homework to take our case to the ICC disputes resolution committee," he added.

"Let me clear that the PCB's case is strong and we will go to the last stage to win at the ICC level since it is our right to demand justice."

Khan also said that there was no clause in MoU about seeking government clearance and as it was it was India’s responsibility to get permission from their government and not the headache of the PCB.

"We even were willing to go and play at any neutral venue so where does this security issue crop up? India has played international bilateral matches at neutral venues."

The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan was played in 2012-13. It was a limited overs series featuring two T20Is and three ODIs in India. The T20 series was drawn and Pakistan won the ODIs 2-1.

India and Pakistan, however, will play each other in the ICC Champions Trophy in UK next month. Both teams are in the same group and clash at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 4.