The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly waiting for the government approval to play a bilateral series against Pakistan in Dubai later this year.

According to a report in the Indian Express, the Indian cricket board has written to the Home Ministry, seeking permission to play against the arch-rivals in order to complete their obligations under the Future Tours & Programme (FTP) agreement which was inked in 2014.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has consistently threatened to take legal action against India for not their failure to honour the Memorandum of Understandings (MoU). The cricket boards, in 2014, had signed MoUs for six bilateral series to be played between 2015 and 2023. But with political tensions between the two neighbours escalating in recent times, the Indian board has been hesitant in resuming the bilateral ties.

But the report in the Indian Express has claimed the BCCI is once again mulling on the prospect of resuming the bilateral ties with the team from across the border. The report stated that the BCCI is looking at a September or November window to play Pakistan in Dubai which is the home venue of the Pakistan team. The BCCI wants a short series in November prior to the tour of South Africa.

As quoted in the news outlet, a source said: “Permission has been sought from Home Ministry, we don’t know what is the government stand. Last time, the tension between the two countries was at its peak. Also, there is the FTP agreement that needs to be fulfilled and that’s why the board is willing to travel to Dubai to play a series against Pakistan. Unless the government gives its nod, the BCCI cannot do anything.”

The arch-rivals have not played a full bilateral Test series after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks which led to the suspension of cricketing ties between the two countries.They played a short series of three ODIs and two T20 matches in India in December 2012 but otherwise, they have met only in ICC-organised events or the Asia Cup.