The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have played all their cards for the tentatively scheduled India vs Pakistan series in December, but their efforts seem to have gone in vain as the series is yet to receive the green signal from the Indian side.
The BCCI have been firm in their stance regarding the fate of the series as they will not be playing against Pakistan in a bilateral series until the Indian government give them a go ahead for the series, which will only be possible if the political relations between the two neighbouring countries improve.
However, new BCCI president Shashank Manohar even invited heads of the PCB in Mumbai to talk about the series. Unfortunately, the meeting could not even shape up as members of the Shiv Sena group protested against it by storming into the BCCI headquarters. There is a possibility of a meeting between the two boards after the India-South Africa series ends.
PCB, despite their attempts, are aware that the chances of India-Pakistan series in December are slim.
Now, former Pakistan cricketer, Javed Miandad, believes with India taking such a stance, PCB should not send the Pakistan team to the T20 world cup. India are set to host the mega ICC event in March.
"I would advice the Pakistan Board to simply make it clear that if according to the Indian Board their government has not given them clearance to play Pakistan, then our government is also not willing to let our team go to India for the World T20 next year," PTI quoted Miandad as saying.
"We now have to deal with the Indian Board giving top priority to our self respect and pride which are far more important than taking part in World T20 in India," he added.
The PCB have been urging the BCCI to fulfil the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two cricket boards in presence of ICC representatives. The BCCI had then agreed that India would play Pakistan six times in eight years, including the December series.
India and Pakistan have not been involved in a bilateral series since 2007, but cricket ties between the two countries came to a standstill after the Mumbai terror attack. India are playing Pakistan during ICC events only. India last played Pakistan in the 2015 ICC cricket world cup in Australia, which was watched by millions around the world.
Miandad wants PCB to take a tough stand.
"We now must take a tough stand and tell India enough is enough. We have survived without playing them (India) in a bilateral series since 2007 so why should we play them in ICC events," said Maindad.
