PCB, BCCI facing logistical problems to revive bilateral series

According to a senior official of the Pakistan cricket Board, the problem was arising because while Pakistan was due to tour India from first week of March, the Asia Cup was also scheduled to start in Bangladesh around the same time.

The official said the statements emanating from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about finding a suitable time slot for the revival of bilateral series between the two countries pertained to this problem.

"The Asian cricket Council (ACC) and the Indians are trying to find a solution because under International cricket Council regulations bilateral tours take precedence over everything else," the official told PTI.

Interestingly, when the ACC finalised the Asia Cup schedule and awarded the event to Bangladesh, bilateral ties between Pakistan and India were suspended by the Indian board on apparent instructions of its government.

But after the 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali and the visit of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani for the match on the invitation of his Indian counterpart, the diplomatic and political scenario between the two nations has improved a bit.

And recently the Pakistani foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar also officially visited India and held talks with Indian foreign ministry and government officials in which resumption of bilateral cricket ties also came under discussion.

"The problem is that both Pakistan and India have a packed international calendar for the next eight months and they are also instances where when Pakistan is free India is busy or when India is free Pakistan team is scheduled to play matches," the official said.