BCCI chief rules out quick revival of ties with Pakistan

Disclosing the details of Monday’s meeting between Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt and the BCCI President Shashank Manohar, Indian board's Media and Finance Committee Chairman Rajeev Shukla said: “PCB chairman Ejaz Butt met with BCCI president Shashank Manohar here today and they spoke about India-Pakistan cricket. We explained to the PCB chairman that India has a busy international schedule in the coming months and there is no space in the calendar to play Pakistan.”

India, who are currently involved in a seven-match one-day series, will play Sri Lanka in home series that has three Tests, five one-dayers and two T20s. India then take on South Africa followed by the Indian Premier League and the World Twenty20. “So there is no free space for the Indian team,” he added.
Shukla said the officials of the two boards would meet again after six months to discuss the possibility of resuming ties.

“But it all depends upon how the relations between the two countries are at that moment and from there we will take it forward. Hopefully the relations are cordial and peaceful then so that the government will also give us permission. But for now there is no possibility of playing against Pakistan,” he said.

Butt had arrived in India on Wednesday to convince the BCCI and the government officials to revive the cricketing ties between the two countries, which were snapped following the Mumbai terror attacks. India refused to tour Pakistan for their scheduled Test and one-day bilateral series against Pakistan early this year and have also rejected suggestions to play their arch-rivals at a neutral venue.

In fact, the ICC had to re-draft the Future Tour Programme after the PCB complained of being sidelined in the post-2012 schedule, having no series with India.