India willing to play Pakistan series at home

Cricket365
December 4, 2015

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shaharyar Khan has confirmed that India have proposed that they visit their country to play a Test series at the end of the year.

According to the Future Tours Programme (FTP), Pakistan are supposed to host the series in the UAE but recent political tensions between the two countries has put the games in major doubt.

The PCB have however told their Indian counterparts that they want to stick to the original agreement and play the matches in the UAE.

Khan said on Saturday: "At about five in the afternoon yesterday, I was giving a lecture at Lahore University of Management and Science (LUMS) when [BCCI president] Shashank Manohar called me.

"He told me that the Indo-Pak cricketing ties should resume and the BCCI has got the permission from the Indian government. He said Pakistan should travel to India to play the series.

"I told him that we had signed the agreement to play in the UAE and we want to stick to that. Secondly, we would suffer massive losses, considering hosting even one series would amount to $50 million.

"And we are talking about the MoU, which was signed for six series. I told him I am not saying we are coming to India to play the series, but what is it that you are thinking of to offset such a big loss?"

Confirming that the BCCI made contact with the PCB, Manohar said nothing has been finalised but they will convene in the coming days to sort out a solution.

Manohar said: "We have not yet approached the government. But yes, I have talked to him [Khan] over phone and we may talk again in the next couple of days."