New Delhi: Indo-Pak cricketing ties are set for revival after the BCCI agreed on Monday to a three-match ODI series between the two arch-rivals, who have not played each other in a bilateral series for close to five years.
The decision to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan was taken by the Board’s powerful Working Committee, which met here on Monday, much to the delight of cricket fans on both sides of the border.
“It was decided to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan by inviting the Pakistan cricket team for a short series in December 2012–January 2013. The modalities will be worked out shortly,” the BCCI said in a statement after the meeting.
The planned series is, however, subject to government approval, but the government is ready to give the go-ahead, a top BCCI official said.
The ties had been snapped after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and there have been several attempts by the Pakistan Cricket Board in recent months to convince the BCCI to resume the contests, as cricket matches featuring the two arch-rivals are a huge hit with fans and generate good revenue.
India and Pakistan last played in a bilateral series in November 2007. The series was clinched 3-2 by India.
The PCB was keen on hosting India to end the international isolation that came with the 2009 Lahore terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers, but with the BCCI reluctant to agree to such an idea because of security concerns, PCB was also willing to play at a neutral venue.
The resumption of cricket ties also got a boost after the foreign secretaries of both the countries asserted that sporting relations should be strengthened.
The thaw in the relations was evident much earlier when the BCCI invited Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20 champion Sialkot Stallions to participate in the Qualifying Tournament of Champions League Twenty20 to be held in South Africa later this year.
During the recent visit of PCB chief Zaka Ashraf to India and at last month’s ICC and Asian Cricket Council meetings in Malaysia, there had been discussions between officials of both the Boards on the matter.
The process actually started last year during the World Cup semifinal clash between the two sides in Mohali where the Prime Ministers of both countries were present and even met each other on the sidelines.
Although the fixtures of the three-match series is yet to be decided, Mohali and Chennai are the likely venues to host the matches. The third venue could be either New Delhi or Bangalore.
“The matches will be held in metropolitan cities only since we have to take into account the security aspect concerning the Pakistan players. So, the rotation policy will not be followed for th series against Pakistan,” a member of the BCCI fixtures committee said.
While most people will be glad that the two sides are back to playing cricket together, the BCCI decision provoked immediate opposition from the Maharashtra-centred Shiv Sena.
The state units of the Congress Party and Samajwadi Party also came out against inviting Pakistan to India. It is therefore unlikely that Mumbai will be a venue for the series.
The series is likely to be sandwiched between the Christmas break and the England tour of India.
The decision to resume Indo-Pak cricketing ties is likely to also clear the decks for Pakistani cricketers to again be part of the Indian Premier League, the first time since 2008.
There has been a growing feeling among the BCCI members that Pakistan players should now be allowed to play in the IPL.
A proposal in this regard may be tabled when the working committee meets next. (PTI)