The PCB and the BCCI are facing a logistical headache preparation their bilateral Test series next year in March-April as the Asia Cup contest is clashing with the much-anticipated series. According to a senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board, the difficulty was arising because while Pakistan was due to tour India from first week of March, the Asia Cup was also scheduled to start in Bangladesh around the same time.
The official said the statement emanating from the Board of Control for Cricket in India about finding a suitable time slot for the revival of bilateral series between the two countries pertained to this problem.The Asian cricket Council (ACC) and the Indians are trying to find a solution because under International cricket Council policy, bilateral tours take preference over everything else,the official said.
Interestingly, when the ACC finalize the Asia Cup schedule and awarded the event to Bangladesh, bilateral ties between Pakistan and India were suspended by the Indian board on apparent commands of its Government. But after the 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali and the visit of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani for the match on the request of his Indian counterpart, the diplomatic and political scenario between the two nations has enhanced a bit.
And recently, the Pakistani foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar also formally appointment India and held talks with Indian foreign ministry and administration officials in which recommencement of bilateral cricket ties also came under discussion.The problem is that both Pakistan and India have a crowded international calendar for the next eight months and there are also instance where when Pakistan is free India is busy or when India is free Pakistan team is planned to play matches,the official said.
The official said that when the chief managerial meetings are held next month, the PCB would hold talks with the Indian board officials to resolve the issue. He said some solution would have to be found as the ACC and member countries also didn't want the Asia Cup delayed as the ACC had commitment with its broadcasters.
He added that any proposal on part of the PCB to the BCCI to split or share wages of the series in India could only be discussed once the schedule was finalized.That is why any significant talks will only begin on such issues next month and after the Indian board sorts out the time slot and dates issues,he said.
He also clarified that the PCB chairman, Ijaz Butt, had not gone to New Delhi to meet with Indian board officials and said no official meeting was scheduled between them. The PCB official approved that Pakistan was keen for the two-pronged series to recommence and required to tour India and was also willing to play the Indians at any neutral venue. India have not played any two-sided cricket match with Pakistan since late 2007 and cancelled a full tour to Pakistan in early 2009 in the wake up of the Mumbai terror attack.