India Vs Pakistan cricket revival not anytime soon

Chandigarh: Amid speculation over the fate of the proposed India-Pakistan series, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla on Friday said there are "no immediate chances" of revival of cricketing ties between the two countries.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan had recently met his Indian counterpart Jagmohan Dalmiya in Kolkata and then BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur in New Delhi to host a bilateral series in December in UAE.

According to an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed between the two boards, India and Pakistan had agreed to play six bilateral series until 2022, but Shukla said that a number things need to be worked out before giving the go-ahead to the proposed series by PCB.

"Though talks between the boards of two countries have held recently, but there are no immediate chances of revival of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan," Shukla said.

"But there are two to three issues which need to be sought before taking a final decision on resuming India-Pakistan cricketing ties," he added.

India suspended all bilateral series with Pakistan in the wake of the 2008 attacks and Shukla clarified that they are not in favour of playing at a neutral venue.

"As per itinerary, India will have to play in Pakistan, but at present it's not possible and we are also not in favour of playing at a neutral venue," he said.

Shukla asserted that the series can only happen after a government clearance.

"There is no final decision yet taken on resumption of ties," he said.

Shukla also informed that the Pakistan board had desired to play in India, but there are revenue problems involved.