NEW DELHI:
Mohsin Naqvi
, the chairman of the
Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB), has expressed openness to the idea of resuming bilateral cricket series with India under certain conditions. Naqvi stated that the PCB would consider the possibility of playing against India in bilateral series if India sends their team to
Pakistan
for the ICC
Champions Trophy
next year.
Speaking to reporters in Lahore during a function, Naqvi addressed questions regarding a recent interview given by Indian captain
Rohit Sharma
. In the interview, Rohit praised the Pakistan team and expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of playing against them in a
Test series
overseas, describing it as "awesome."
The statement from Naqvi signals a potential thaw in cricketing relations between the two neighboring nations, who have experienced strained diplomatic ties in recent years.
Bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan have been rare due to political tensions, with matches typically taking place only in ICC tournaments or multi-team events.
"Look, if any options in this regard come we will consider it, but our target right now is to host the Champions Trophy and first let India come for the tournament," he said.
"Right now till the CT there is no slot available as our team has a packed itinerary."
"Once they come here first then we can look at any proposal whenever it comes before us," he added.
The history of bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan underscores the complexities and challenges in resuming regular matches between the two cricketing giants. The last bilateral limited-overs series between the two teams took place in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India. However, India has been reluctant to engage in Test matches against Pakistan since 2007, following a series between the two countries on Indian soil.
In recent years, the strained political relations between India and Pakistan have spilled over into cricketing engagements. India's refusal to participate in Test matches against Pakistan, as well as its decision to skip the Asia Cup matches hosted in Pakistan last year, have further exacerbated tensions in cricketing diplomacy between the two nations. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had to devise a hybrid model for the event, with the majority of matches being held in Sri Lanka, due to India's non-participation.
Despite these challenges, there have been attempts to improve cricketing relations between India and Pakistan. PCB chairman Naqvi held discussions with
Jay Shah
, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), during an ICC meeting in Dubai in February.
Such interactions between cricketing authorities from both countries signify a willingness to explore avenues for collaboration and potentially pave the way for the resumption of bilateral cricketing ties, albeit with certain conditions and diplomatic considerations.
(With PTI inputs)
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