PCB set to give up on bilateral series with India

LAHORE: Awaiting BCCI's response, the Pakistan Cricket Board is set to give up on the proposed bilateral series with India, with PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan chairman saying "we are closing this chapter now".

Shaharyar has written to the BCCI, asking the Indian board to come up with a definite decision on the series within 48 hours, failing which they would decide against playing India. They will take a final decision tomorrow.

"Yes, we haven't received a reply from the BCCI till Saturday evening, therefore, we are closing this chapter now. We will, however, make an announcement in this regard by Monday," Shaharyar was quoted as saying by 'Dawn'.

He added: "We made every possible effort to play India and even changed the venue from the UAE to Sri Lanka on BCCI's request, but our efforts went in vain. We signed a MoU with the BCCI last year and were sincere in playing cricket with them.

"Our failure to materialise the series disappointed millions of cricket fans all over the world, especially in India and Pakistan," Shaharyar said.

He said the PCB will raise the issue with the ICC and at the bilateral level, and added that they should not be held responsible if the series does not see the light of the day.

The BCCI is awaiting the Indian government's permission for playing against the arch rivals. The BCCI and the PCB had signed an MoU last year under which the two countries agreed to play a total of six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

India has not played a full bilateral Test series with Pakistan since the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008.