BCCI seeks govt permission for India-Pakistan series in Dubai

A bilateral series between Pakistan and India could be a reality later this year if the Indian government gives a go-ahead to its cricket board.

According to Indian media, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has written a letter to the Home Ministry seeking permission to play Pakistan at the neutral venue of Dubai later this year, to complete their obligations under the Future Tours & Programme (FTP) agreement which was inked in 2014.

BCCI has proposed a series consisting of three Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is between the two teams in the September/October/November window this year, before the Indian tour of South Africa. according to reports.

The BCCI also wanted to host Pakistan for a brief series in 2016 but failed to get government clearance due to renewed tension between the two neighbouring countries.

If the Indian government accepts the proposal, the series will be the first bilateral series between India and Pakistan since 2012.

‘Bilateral series can be held even at short notice’

Cricket journalist Rishabh Sharma of Zee News, speaking to Geo News, said that during an ICC meeting held in February this year the Pakistan Cricket Board had put forward a proposal to the BCCI in which it had asked what the Indian board planned to do about the 2014 series which could not materialise.

The PCB had suggested the possibility of a bilateral series at the neutral venue of Dubai, following which the BCCI, at its working committee meeting later that month, had prepared a draft seeking permission from the Indian government for the series, Sharma informed, quoting BCCI sources.

“If the government gives the go-ahead then this series can be held even at a very short notice,” Sharma added.

The Indian journalist further said that the BCCI proposal mentions the window of September/October for the series as the discontinuation of Champions League T20 tournament has freed up the board for that part of the year.

He added that a response from the Indian government in this regard is expected within the next month.