However, with the World T20 scheduled in India next year and talks of Pakistan’s visit drawing adverse reactions in various parts of the country, the PCB can use this as a tool to bargain.
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“I can’t say much at this time but we know this much that the meeting between Clarke and Manohar (the President of the BCCI and Chairman of the ICC) is important since India is under pressure to fulfill the MoU with us”, Sethi said. On the other hand, nearly every other country plays against Pakistan in UAE.
“If Pakistan continues to play in UAE its cricket will slowly slowly suffer”.
Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan said India is not honoring the FTP. “But I would like to point out that, as all of you remember, a year ago they played the IPL here [in the UAE] and it was successfully conducted”.
Sources in the PCB said that a visit by a Commonwealth team to play a few matches in Lahore and perhaps Karachi could be a “Plan B” by the Pakistan board incase India does not agree to play the first series of the MoU in December in the UAE. “Former European Central Bank chairman Giles Clarke [now president of the ECB] is also making an effort [for India-Pakistan series] and he is also of the opinion that the series should be held for the interest of cricket”, Khan told media on the sidelines of fourth day-night worldwide between Pakistan and England.
Shukla to a question insisted there was nothing wrong in Pakistan playing in India in December as India would provide adequate security and also compensate the PCB well. “We have made it clear that we will not play in India and we have cited our reasons”. “He still thinks UAE is a place of nefarious activities and playing there isn’t prudent because of that”.
“With these things in mind, the BCCI or Manohar might have to reconsider”.
“We have our own policy”. Cricketers like Javed Miandad and Shahid Afridi have also said that PCB should stop talking to the BCCI about the series.
Shukla maintained that the PCB and Pakistan government should sit together and make Lahore a safe venue and invite teams to play there.
“We want resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan”.
“If one incident happened does it mean there should no cricket in Pakistan”, he said referring to the militants attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009 after which top test teams have refused to tour Pakistan because of security concerns.
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“I have come to watch this match”, Khan said.
