The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani has recently claimed that the Pakistan board is always ready to organise a bilateral series against India. But until the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decides to play the bilateral series against Pakistan, the PCB will not run after on this matter.
While India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is one of the biggest rivalries in international cricket history, the India-Pakistan bilateral series is one of the highest ratings bilateral cricket events. But, due to the political tensions between these two neighbour countries, cricket fans are missing the India-Pakistan bilateral series since 2013.
Last time, India and Pakistan were involved in a bilateral series in January 2013 in India. Moreover, while they met in Pakistan for the last time during the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2008 (at Karachi on 2nd July 2008), their last Test match was the Bengaluru Test in December 2007.
Since the 2012/13 season, where India and Pakistan were involved in two limited-overs bilateral series in India (only bilateral series between them since late 2007), they now only meet in the ICC or ACC tournaments.
It is BCCI’s call when they are ready to play, we will be willing to play: Ehsan Mani about the future of India-Pakistan bilateral series
Ehsan Mani has recently clarified that they are always ready to play a bilateral series against India, but it can be only actualised if the BCCI also agrees in this matter.
Mani said during a discussion with cricket authors Peter Oborne and Richard Heller in a podcast, “I have taken the view, and I have let it be known to the BCCI, that we are always there to play, but we are not going to be running after them. It is their call when they are ready to play, we will be willing to play.”
Last time, India and Pakistan met in the international cricket during the league stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (at Manchester on 16th June 2019). India once again continued their unbeaten run against Pakistan in the World Cup history as the Men in Blue beat the Men in Green by 89 runs (DLS method) in their last meeting.