PCB awaiting BCCI's 'final reply' on India-Pakistan series

Lahore, Dec 7- The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to inform it about its final decision regarding the bilateral series by Monday, failing which PCB has the right to cancel the series since time is needed for making arrangements.

PCB had proposed to play a three-match One-Day International (ODI) and a two-match T20 series from December 15 to January 4 but BCCI is yet to confirm the schedule and is still awaiting a green signal from the Indian government.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said he had asked BCCI on Saturday to convey its decision by Monday citing the short time left to make administrative and cricketing arrangements for the series.

"It is very unfortunate that confusion still prevails. And under these circumstances, it won't be easy for any organisation to complete all arrangements well before time," the PCB chief was quoted as saying by a newspaper on Sunday.

"The PCB has played a positive role in managing the affairs to restore the bilateral series and now the ball is in India's court."

"I believe that a majority of Indians love to watch matches between India and Pakistan. But it is unfortunate that hardly any opportunity has been given to them for the last eight years," he added.

Khan said PCB has no alternative plan in mind for play to happen as it was running out of time.

He said after a short meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries in Paris recently, hope for the resumption of play surfaced but it has since subsided.

Former chief of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Giles Clarke arranged a meeting between the two cricket boards in Dubai last month to solve the issue amicably. But no definite solution emerged from it.

The government of Pakistan gave permission to PCB to host the Indian team at neutral venues like Sri Lanka but BCCI is yet to get any confirmation from the Indian government.

Agency