With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reluctant to play Pakistan in the UAE and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ruling out the possibility of touring India, the two boards may mull playing a bilateral series in either Sri Lanka or Bangladesh next month – The Telegraph has reported.
The BCCI, according to the report, is eagerly exploring if Sri Lanka or Bangladesh will be willing to host the high-octane series and then may propose the option to PCB.
The two boards had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sometime back, according to which Pakistan are scheduled to have a home series against India in December 2015.
Pakistan, since the 2009 Lahore attacks on the Sri Lankan team, have played all their ‘home’ series in the UAE, but the Shashank Manohar-led BCCI have reiterated that it’s not possible for them at present to send the team to the UAE.
The two boards having deals with separate broadcasters – PCB with TEN Sports and BCCI with Star – is one of the roadblocks for playing a series in either the UAE or India.
Manohar, who is also the ICC chairman, and Shaharyar are expected to meet in Dubai and discuss the possibility.
Sri Lanka, who don’t play any home series between the first week of December and the start of January, are more likely to host the series if the two boards and their respective governments reach an agreement.
India are slated to tour Australia from the second week of January, with the first ODI scheduled for January 12.
