Sports Ministry reluctant to hold India and Pakistan bilateral series

New Delhi: Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel today nixed any bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan in the near future. Ahead of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) meeting in Dubai today to discuss a bilateral series, the Sports minister made it clear that 'cricket and terrorism can’t go hand-in-hand'.

Talking to media persons, Goel said, "BCCI should speak to the government before giving any proposal to Pakistan.India and Pakistan can't play bilateral series till the Pakistan keeps on nursing terrorism." "We have, however, no say on multilateral events (ICC tournaments)," the Minister added.

Although the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) directs that Indian cricket team is scheduled to play Pakistan in a bilateral series later this year, but conflict across the border can scuttle any chances of India playing against its arch rivals.Earlier, BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary had expressed," We still remain committed to playing, but the position doesn’t change: the series cannot go ahead without the permission of the government of India."

"After PCB wrote to us, we have written to the government of India again, and are awaiting the response.I believe the dialogue should go on, which is why we are meeting," he added.According to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by BCCI and PCB, India and Pakistan were supposed to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.But PCB sent a notice of dispute to the Indian board earlier this month, stating losses for the BCCI’s refusal to tour in 2015. (UNI)