After all the talks that were making rounds on the grapevine, we have breaking news pouring in that the Indian government has called off the series after consultation with the Home ministry. We had got news that BCCI had written to the home ministry seeking permission to play Pakistan in Dubai, but all of that is ruled out with fresh news coming in.
The excitement and the fun could be back, the grapevine has it that India will be playing arch-rivals Pakistan later this year in a neutral venue, may be Dubai. BCCI has written to the Indian government seeking go-ahead to play a series with Pakistan later this year. BCCI has approached the Home Ministry seeking the rights to play Pakistan. This is a report that has been confirmed by an Indian english channel. One thing is for certain the ties between the two nations can only end if sports, arts and culture is promoted.
In the past when Shashank Manohar was in charge, India wanted to have a short series with Pakistan but did not get government clearance owing to tension between the two countries and the subsequent terror attacks on Indian soil, especially the Pathankot attack was a nail in the coffin as far as the series was concerned.
A leading daily reported, this is what an official from the BCCI said about the matter, “Permission has been sought from Home Ministry, we don’t know what is the government stand. Last time, tension between the two countries was at its peak. Also, there is the FTP agreement that needs to be fulfilled and that’s why the board is willing to travel to Dubai to play a series against Pakistan. Unless the government gives its nod, the BCCI cannot do anything.”
The initiative could be exactly what the doctor ordered for in terms of easing the tensions between the two subcontinental nations.
