With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not being able to resume bilateral ties with Pakistan due to the political tensions between the two countries, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to ask the Indian board to pay USD 70 million for failing to play two ‘home bilateral series’. The PCB is expected to file its claims to the ICC’s dispute resolution committee in the coming days.
The BCCI and the PCB, in 2014, had signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for six bilateral series to be played between 2015 and 2023 with Pakistan hosting four of them. However, the MoU did not get implement due to the escalating political tensions between the two neighbours.
Both the countries had not played a full bilateral Test series since 2007 when Pakistan visited India for three Tests and five One-Day Internationals. They played a short series of three ODIs and two T20s in India in December 2012, but otherwise, both have faced each other only in the ICC organised events or the Asia Cup.
However, the PCB is now in no mood to wait further and is ready to seek compensation from its Indian counterpart.
“Our case is that the BCCI signed a MoU with us in 2014 to play six bilateral series, starting with our home series, which they have not done as yet,” Najam Sethi, PCB chairman, told PTI. “Secondly they have avoided playing us in bilateral series since 2008 although they have no issues playing against us in ICC events.”
The BCCI’s stance, nevertheless, has left everyone confused. While the board has not allowed the team to play bilateral series against Pakistan, the Men in Blue recently played against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, Sethi also said the PCB was ready to play against India at a neutral venue, but the BCCI declined it.
“We even offered to host our home series against them at a neutral venue(s) to be mutually agreed by both of us,” he said. “In 2016, we even offered to host a limited overs series in Sri Lanka.”