INDIA-PAKISTAN SERIES IN THE BALANCE – Modi to take final decision INDIA-PAKISTAN SERIES IN THE BALANCE – Modi to take final decision ..

NEW DELHI: The eagerly awaited India-Pakistan cricket series, despite a series of parleys between the two cricket boards, may not happen anytime soon.

According to reports emerged in Indian media on Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is unlikely to get the clearance from the Indian government. Quoting a senior minister in the Indian government, ESPNcricinfo today claimed that the chance of the series taking place is “very difficult”, and that a final decision will be taken by the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

The report in the cricket portal also quoted a senior BCCI official as saying, “It [the series] looks unlikely considering the government has not said anything.”

Another report in NDTV also stated the bilateral series is ‘unlikely’ to place as all cricket series between India and Pakistan need approvals from their respective governments. “Government is likely to turn down BCCI’s request for the clearance of the series because it feels the atmosphere is not conducive to restore cricketing ties,” the report said.

After the recent agreement reached by the two boards, Sri Lanka has been chosen as the neutral venue to revive the series. And the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already received the clearance from their government to play India in Lanka, reportedly three ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals from December 15. But, the Indian board, which had written to the Modi government for clearance, is still waiting for a response.

According to the Future Tours Programme, a series of two Tests, three ODI and two T20 was originally scheduled between India and Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in December 2015. It can also be mentioned that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two boards, during ex-BCCI president N. Srinavasan’s reign in 2014, for six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023, with four series to be hosted by Pakistan.