Veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi believes Pakistan can go to India and play a series but only after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gets written assurance of revenue sharing from its Indian counterpart.
“We can go and play in India but I back the stance of the PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan that we first need written guarantees from the Indian board about everything,” Afridi was quoted as saying by IBNLive.
His comments came in response to media reports that the BCCI was ready to host the planned bilateral series with Pakistan in December but on a 50-50 revenue sharing basis.
The BCCI made it clear on Tuesday that it was not in favour of either playing the December series in Pakistan or UAE and proposed the series be held in India.
“I remember the last time we went to India in 2012-13 they (BCCI) earned in crores of rupees and we got nothing,” Afridi said.
"But this time if the Indian board gives in writing they will give revenues to Pakistan if the series is held in India, than it can be done," he said.
He said that while resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan was important and the PCB had also been trying its best to arrange the series in December, it was BCCI which had deferred the issue.
The BCCI on Tuesday proposed a limited-over series with Pakistan, comprising five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals, but reiterated that the Indian team would not be travelling to Pakistan or UAE for the matches.
“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,” BCCI chief Shashank Manohar told The Hindu.
“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.”
