Sports Minister Vijay Goel Squashes Any Possibilities Of Cricketing Ties With Pakistan

May 29, 2017 at 4:30 PM

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Sports Minister Vijay Goel Squashes Any Possibilities Of Cricketing Ties With Pakistan

Sports minister Vijay Goel has clarified Indian government’s stance on the possibility of a bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan. Goel conceded that the current tension between both the neighbours does give any room for sporting ties.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Monday, the minister said: “cricket and terrorism can’t go hand-in-hand.”

There is controversy brewing between both the cricket boards over the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parties. According to the ICC Future Tours Programme, India is scheduled to play Pakistan in a bilateral series later this year. However, the possibilities of such a tour taking place seem very less due to the persistent hostilities from across the borders.

As per the MoU, both the nations are scheduled to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

Earlier this month, things reached a tipping point after PCB sent a notice to BCCI, claiming damages for refusal of the bilateral tour in 2015.

The two cricket boards are set to meet in Dubai to discuss the possibilities of the staging the series. BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary will represent BCCI while PCB is expected to be represented by its chairman Shaharyar Khan and legal representatives.

The government will have the biggest say:

BCCI officials have clarified that the Indian board committed to playing the series. However, without government clearance, no step could be taken forward.

“We still remain committed to playing, but the position doesn’t change: the series cannot go ahead without the permission of the government of India.

“After PCB wrote to us, we have written to the government of India again, and are awaiting the response. I believe the dialogue should go on, which is why we are meeting,” Choudhary said.

The two side last played in a bilateral series back in 2012/13 which featured two T20Is and three ODIs in India. The T20 series was shared while Pakistan returned with the ODI honours after winning it 2-1.

India and Pakistan, however, have met at multi-nation on many occasions since then. They will be playing against each other at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 4 in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy which starts in a matter of a couple of days.

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