Cricket lovers may get to witness archrivals India and Pakistan playing each other later next year after a long hiatus, if everything goes according to plan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi has now revealed that a bilateral series is in the offing.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N. Srinivasan has reportedly hinted at the possibility of having a series between the two nations, at the recent Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Hong Kong.
"The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, N. Srinivasan told me during the meeting there is a chance both teams could play by end of 2014 after the general elections in India," PTI quoted Sethi telling reporters on his return from Hong Kong.
"There is no written agreement between the two boards on when this series might be played but Srinivasan said they would consider a series. But the fact that talks are being held and the BCCI is thinking on these lines is a positive development itself," he added.
India will host the series if the plan works out as no international team has toured Pakistan, ever since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009. Sethi admitted that countries are not willing to play in Pakistan over security fear.
It may be recalled that India was scheduled to tour Pakistan in 2009 but the series was cancelled, citing security concerns. The 2011 tour was also called off for the same reason. The last bilateral series, consisting of two Twenty20s and three ODIs, was held in India in late 2012.
Political and diplomatic tensions between the countries have affected their cricketing ties for years. The situation hit a new low in September, after India initially denied visa to a Pakistani T20 team - Faisalabad Wolves - to take part in the Champions League Twenty20 2013 (CLT20) held in India, following repeated violation of ceasefire along the Line of Control (LOC). The Pakistani team was issued visas at the eleventh hour, facilitating their participation in the tournament.
