LAHORE – A heavy-weight three-member delegation of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), comprising Chairman Shahryar Khan, Pakistan Super League Chairman Najam Sethi and Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad left for Dubai on Monday to meet Indian cricket board officials.
The PCB delegation will hold a meeting with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) delegation to find out why India refused to play a bilateral series with Pakistan.
Talking to newsmen at Lahore airport, PCB chief Shahryar Khan said that Pakistan was standing by its agreement to play a series against India.
“India didn’t play any match with Pakistan despite the agreement. We demand that Indian cricket team plays a bilateral series against Pakistan,” he added.
On the other hand, PSL chairman Sethi remarked if the meeting remains unsuccessful then another meeting will be held.
“India should compensate for refusing to play the bilateral series. If Indian cricket board does not budge then the matter will be taken to International Cricket Council (ICC),” he added.
On May 3, the country’s cricket board initiated formal dispute resolution proceedings against the BCCI to claim compensation and damages it suffered due to BCCI’s refusal to play bilateral series with the Pakistan Cricket Board, despite their commitment.
BCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the PCB in 2014 under which they were due to play six series – four to be hosted by Pakistan – between 2015 and 2023.
However, New Delhi denied clearance for the series following turbulent relations between the two countries in the aftermath of Uri attack and tensions on the Line of Control.
Under the agreement, the Indian team was due to take on Pakistan in November-December 2015, but they refused to play even in the neutral venues of United Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka.
Pakistan did tour India for a short limited-over series in December 2012 but the traditional cricketing foes have not played a full bilateral series since 2007.
