ISLAMABAD — The Board of Control for Cricket in India has told Pakistan’s board that it will seek government permission on whether December’s scheduled series between the two countries can proceed as planned.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said Thursday that chairman Shaharyar Khan received a letter from BCCI president Shashank Manohar saying it has approached the Indian government to get “definitive guidance” on the series in the United Arab Emirates.
Members of the radical Hindu nationalist party Shiv Sena, opposed to relationships with Pakistan, stormed the BCCI office in Mumbai last week, forcing the cancellation of a meeting between the two board chiefs.
“Mr. Manohar has expressed his sincere regrets for the cancellation of the meeting,” the PCB said in a statement. “Under pressure from extremist elements, BCCI canceled its meeting.”
Last year, the two countries signed an agreement to play six series in between 2015 and 2023, with Pakistan as nominal hosts four times.
“It has also been conveyed (to the PCB) that the BCCI has officially approached the Indian government to obtain definitive guidance on the Pakistan-India series,” the PCB said.
The PCB has already said that it had a backup plan in case India refused to play against Pakistan in December, but it still hopes BCCI will fulfill its commitment.
“The PCB maintains that sports and politics should not be mixed and hopes that the BCCI will not be held hostage by extremist elements who wish to sabotage bilateral cricket relations,” the PCB said.
Afghanistan downs
Zimbabwe
Afghanistan swept to a second historic triumph Wednesday when it defeated Zimbabwe 2-0 in their two-match Twenty20 series.
Four days after becoming the first non-Test side to beat a Test-playing nation in a one-day 50-over series, Afghanistan hammered home its superiority with a five-wicket win.
It had won the first Twenty20 clash at the same Queen’s Sports Club venue by six wickets Monday.
Opener Usman Ghani smashed a 45-ball 65 with Man of the Match Guldabin Naib hitting an undefeated 56 off just 31 balls with seven boundaries.
Afghanistan chased down the imposing 191-run target with one ball to spare.
Sean Williams had top scored for Zimbabwe with a 26-ball 54.
Scores: Zimbabwe 190-7 in 20 overs (Sean Williams 54). Afghanistan 191-5 in 19.5 overs (Usman Ghani 65, Gulbadin Naib 56).
Bangladesh to host Asia
Cup despite security jitters
Bangladesh will host the Asia Cup cricket for the third time running in February and March despite recent security fears which prompted Australia to cancel a tour, the national cricket chief said.
At a meeting in Singapore this week, the Asian Cricket Council decided Bangladesh will hold the tournament, to be played in the Twenty20 format for the first time, just before the ICC World T20 in neighbouring India.
“Pakistan proposed that Bangladesh should host next year’s Asia Cup and everyone agreed,” Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan told reporters late Wednesday.
Featuring five Asian countries, the tournament will be played from Feb. 24 to Mar. 6, with the World T20 running from March to April.
Test nations Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will get direct entry. Afghanistan, Oman, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates will play a qualifying tournament in November in the UAE for the fifth place.
Bangladesh also hosted the tournament in 2012 and 2014, along with 2000 and 1988. — Agencies
