The chairman of the Indian Premier League Rajiv Shukla categorically ruled out any chances of the Pakistan-India series scheduled to be held in December in the UAE citing ‘some issues and reservation’ that needed to be resolved by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Shukla also dismissed the claims made by the PCB chairman Shahryar Khan that India must honour the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two boards last year.
“You ask Shahryar Khan details about the MoU and whether conditions set in it are being met at the moment to play any bilateral series,” said Shukla, while talking to a private sports channel as quoted by Press Trust of India.
He also ruled out any chances of the two boards resuming bilateral ties in December.
“That is not happening because of the existing situation and secondly we first need to get clearance from our government for the series and then ask PCB to also first resolve some reservations and issues that we have,” he said.
Earlier, Shahryar said in a statement to the Express newspaper that a boycott in International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council events was an option if the Indian board officially refused to carry on with the proposed series against Pakistan.
“Nothing is final or decided as yet but if the Indian board officially backs out of the series than we have the option of boycotting all matches against them in ICC and ACC events as well,” said Shahryar.
Shukla added that if Pakistan went for the option of boycott then ICC has the necessary laws to deal with them.
India have avoided playing against Pakistan since 2007, the last time the two countries played a proper bilateral Test series.
Shukla said he would like to see both countries play cricket but only when the situation was normal and relations improved.
“Right now no team is willing to tour Pakistan because of the security situation there.”
