Manohar positive on Indo-Pak series

The first hints, though faint, of the resumption of India-Pakistan cricketing ties emerged at the AGM when president Shashank Manohar informed the meeting that the BCCI had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play a two-Test and five-match one-day series in the United Arab Emirates in December 2015.

“We are committed to playing Pakistan in December. However, since it’s not possible to play them in Pakistan or the UAE, we have to look at playing the series in Northern India in December,” said Manohar, giving the latest status report on the series.

Though former and current Pakistan players have urged PCB not to pursue the series because of BCCI’s lack of encouraging response, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has time and again impressed upon Manohar to give his best shot to execute the MoU and play in the UAE.

After his election in October, Manohar had said that resumption of India-Pakistan series hinged not only on the decision of the Boards, but also on the decision of the two governments in New Delhi and Islamabad.

“To play against Pakistan we need to get government permission. So we need to speak to the government and abide by whatever decision the government takes,” he said.

When asked whether BCCI would be inviting a team to play a home series in December, Manohar said at the post AGM press conference: “It all depends on what happens to the proposed India-Pakistan series.

“We have to get an appointment with the government first and then we will take a call.”

India and Pakistan have not played a Test series since December 2007 and a One-Day International series since December 2012.