Lahore, June 29: It seems that Pakistan-India cricketing ties are heading on the right track, with the Test series between the two nation likely to see the light of the day in the coming season.
The decision came following discussions on the sidelines of respective foreign secretaries meeting in Islamabad, and is expected to be the focus of discussion of officials from both countries when they meet at the end of the International Cricket Council (ICC) annual meeting in Singapore.
According to a source, India, for the very first time following 2008 Mumbai attacks has expressed interest of renewing Test series with Pakistan. ”Though it is something directly involving the cricket boards of the respective countries, for the first time following the Mumbai attack Indian Government has given all clear to the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI) to restart cricketing ties with Pakistan. The issue, however, was not part of any agenda during the recently held meeting of the foreign secretaries of both countries,” a government official told ‘The News’.
The Indian Government, it has been learnt, has given all clear to BCCI to negotiate with the PCB on the restarting Test matches. ”It is now up to the respective boards to negotiate on the formalities of the Test series. Most probably the series between the two countries would be played any time in the coming season,” the source said.
Following the deadly 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, India had abandoned their scheduled return tour to Pakistan. And since then efforts have been made by the PCB to arrange a series, which never got any positive response from its Indian counterpart following their government showing no interest to the Pakistan Board’s proposal.
Now, though the matter of the series rests upon the negotiation among the Boards, doubts remain over whether BCCI would agree to send its team to Pakistan under prevailing situation.
The series, most probably, would be held on neutral venue while chances are that Pakistan may travel to India to play the series. ”Both options are under consideration,” a PCB official said.
——-Agencies