Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan says he will not compromise on the safety of Pakistani players after BCCI chief Shashank Manohar put forth an informal proposal to host a limited over series in India.
In a telephonic conversation, the BCCI chief also discussed the possibility of compensating Pakistan for any loss of revenue that the PCB may incur if it were to play its 'home' series in India, Khan revealed in a press conference in Lahore on Saturday.
“The BCCI chief told me that India was to ready to play the series and had been cleared by the government. But I found it very disturbing that they want us to travel to India for our home series,” Khan said.
“Manohar clarified that the matches would be hosted in cities where there were no security concerns but according to our initial agreement the series was scheduled to take place in UAE and we should abide by that.”
India and Pakistan signed an agreement to play a total of six series – four hosted by Pakistan and the other two by India – on the sidelines of an International Cricket Council (ICC) annual conference in Melbourne last year. According to the deal the first series of was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in UAE this December but the prospects remain uncertain after political tensions between the two countries.
According to Shaharyar, the PCB would consult the government before making any decision on the India series.
“They have offered to discuss the possibility of compensating us for any financial losses. But before we even consider touring India, we would need the permission of the government.”
“In the current atmosphere, any Pakistani who travels to India is threatened by Shiv Sena or some other group, so how can we take that risk?”
Reacting to Shaharyar's statement, the BCCI president said that Indian board had not even approached the government yet for clearance.
“It's an incorrect statement. We have not yet approached the government. Yes, I have talked to him over phone and we may talk again in the next couple of days,” Manohar was quoted as saying by Times of India.
The chairman of the PCB Executive Committee, Najam Sethi, on Friday rejected the idea of staging Pakistan's 'home series' in India, reiterating that it was time the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) honoured the agreement signed between the two countries last year.
“We visited India in 2007 and 2012 and we did not get a single penny for it. It’s now time for the BCCI to reciprocate and honour its commitment of playing a bilateral series in UAE,” Sethi told reporters in Lahore on Friday.
Key points of the Shaharyar-Manohar conversation
-PCB to seek permission of government on India series
-BCCI formally proposes that Pakistan play its home series in India
-All matches will be played in cities where there are no security concerns
-India willing to discuss revenue sharing
