India has that said it would not play bilateral cricket series with Pakistan as long as Islamabad continues to support and sponsor cross-border terrorism.
Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Monday made it clear that the Indian government would not allow the bilateral cricket series as long as Pakistan continues to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy. “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should come up with a suggestion or proposal in this regard only after consulting the government. I had said earlier also that the possibilities of bilateral series with Pakistan are very remote,” Goel told reporters.
Officials from the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB were to meet in Dubai on Monday to discuss possibilities of a bilateral series. “As long as Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorists, it will not be possible for India to have sporting with Pakistan. Terrorism and sports will not run side by side,” he added.
India and Pakistan, however, will continue to play each other in international tournaments. The two teams will meet each other in a group clash of the upcoming Champions Trophy at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on June 4.
“As far as multi-lateral events are concerned, we have no control over those. So the two countries will continue to play each other in such tournaments,” Goel said.
Earlier in the day, BCCI Acting Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary said a bilateral series with Pakistan was possible if the government gave the go-ahead. “We are not averse to a bilateral series with Pakistan. But everything depends on whether the government gives the clearance,” Chaudhary told a news channel, adding “the series will not be possible without approval from the government.”
Pakistan last visited India in December 2012 for a limited overs series that included three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20I). India has not played Pakistan in a full bilateral series since 2007 when Pakistan visited India to play five ODIs and a one-off Test match.