No Indo-Pak cricket in 2016: BCCI secretary

E-Paper | March 06, 2026

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary on Tuesday wrote off resumption of bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan in 2016.

Thakur clearly said the two arch rivals will face-off only in big international tournaments.

“No series planned against Pakistan this year. India will only play against them in multi-national tournaments,” Thakur told ANI.

The arch rivals were scheduled to play a bilateral series in December last year in the UAE, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and BCCI in 2014.

However, the series could not take place after BCCI stepped back from the accord.

Pakistan and India will lock horns in the T20 Asia Cup and ICC World Twenty20 in 2016.

The former will be held in Bangladesh from February 24 while the latter will take place in India from March 8.

Pakistan and India last played a full bilateral series in 2007. However, Pakistan toured India for a short series in 2012.

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Prashantjain

Jan 12, 2016 09:25pm

Good decision

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AXH

Jan 12, 2016 09:26pm

We (Pakistan) do not want to play against India anyway.

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imran

Jan 12, 2016 09:43pm

Then don't play at all. Pakistan leaders of the sport have lost all self respect and need to be sacked.

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Abdulla Hussain

Jan 12, 2016 09:46pm

OMG, again we have to take this cricket teaser. I wish India & Pakistan never have cricket series in the future. I pray it is never held. At least we will be saved from off again & on again syndrum.

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zibbi

Jan 12, 2016 09:50pm

Pakistan shdnt play indiaa anywhere. Period!

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Jan 12, 2016 09:58pm

NO cricket No talks. Leave us alone. Live and let live.

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Khan Marri

Jan 12, 2016 10:00pm

Good decision by India

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Shaheen

Jan 12, 2016 10:02pm

If i was PM of pakistan i would have stoped my national team to play any match forever because indians are know around the world for their bad behaver.

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Xenia

Jan 12, 2016 10:06pm

Pakistan should not participate in world T20 to be held in India due to security concerns!

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Gawal Mandi Ya

Jan 12, 2016 10:19pm

You know what? So be it,I'm tired of this whining game by India,India is not the only team out there,Pakistan can focus on countries who want to play the game of cricket instead bringing in politics in the game of cricket.Later days India.

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Atif

Jan 12, 2016 10:24pm

Pakistan must respond legally. They must consider whether they can not play India in World T20 without any serious consequences. I am all for peace with India, and hope that Pathankot issue is solved to everyone's satisfaction. But refusing to fulfil their obligations to Pakistani cricket, India is coming across as shameless a cricketing hooligan, as there ever has been. All the while, the ICC which is effectively an Indian Cricket council, just watches idly. What a pathetic international sports body.

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syed wasim haider

Jan 12, 2016 10:25pm

Good. Now the things are clear.If u have to play there should be good atmosphere and with open heart

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Taimoor Khan

Jan 12, 2016 10:25pm

Pakistan should now go one step forward and say NO games at all with India in 2016. Withdraw from T20 world cup at ones. There are plenty of reasons, security related is the main one.

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PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Jan 12, 2016 10:34pm

Still you think, we are waiting to play with you?

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jake

Jan 12, 2016 10:35pm

@zibbi nice try

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Abe

Jan 12, 2016 10:43pm

No loss for India... They have enough and more. Their plates are full.

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azkhan71

Jan 12, 2016 10:54pm

Who cares....Pakistani team doesn't want to play against crying babies anyways....But with this BCCI's decision, it shows that they are still afraid of playing against Pakistan as they know Pak team can kick their butts at anytime on any ground.

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Harmony-1©

Jan 12, 2016 11:05pm

This sort of statement only causes negativity amongst people of two nations.

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Omar

Jan 12, 2016 11:32pm

Thanks no all PCB needs to do is to ask MNS to stop the worldT20 Pakistan participation on security grounds. This way ICC cannot put any fines (just like Australia U19 team did by not going to BD) and India can play against Scotland on that ground.

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kashmir

Jan 12, 2016 11:39pm

One day Pakistan will play cricket in Srinagar, Kashmir when Kashmir will be freed from yoke of indian oppression.

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Haider

Jan 12, 2016 11:46pm

I bet you this is in response to PCB not giving NOCs to a few Pakistanis playing in the MCL.

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Hippo

Jan 12, 2016 11:48pm

Shukar hai, the saga ends, thanku BCCI. PCB wanted BCCI to say NO, they got thier wish. Now back to normal life for both India and Pak.

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Changez_Khan

Jan 13, 2016 12:17am

Thank you and please make it NEVER.

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Lafanga

Jan 13, 2016 12:33am

Indian hypocrisy displayed openly. Pakistan is good enough to talk peace with and do surprise stopovers at but not good enough to play cricket with. All those naive Pakistanis and Indians trying to smoke a peace together are just that .... Naive.

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Who am I?

Jan 13, 2016 12:45am

What a wonderful announcement. We want to hear the same in the same spirit from the PCB. Pakistan and India should never play with each other and ICC should also try to arrange groups in international events in such a manner that both countries will find it very hard to face each other. That is the best way to keep India away from the Pakistan.

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N K Ali

Jan 13, 2016 12:51am

It's over! Pakistan should not play in Asia Cup T20 in Bangladesh or in the T20 World Cup in India. Come what may! Both countries have backed out of commitments made in writing. Salams

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Rogers Evans

Jan 13, 2016 01:10am

Congratulations PCB !!!!! At least India is frank to let people know.

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Qaisar

Jan 13, 2016 01:42am

I think it is time we stop begging india to play with us.. Let's focus on the quality of our cricket so much that we never have to beg any country to play with us again....rather they should contact us... Gentlemen let be on the top

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Shame

Jan 13, 2016 02:14am

Shame on PCB and ICC as well !

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Iqbal Khan

Jan 13, 2016 02:41am

They will not play and go back on their words as usual. Pakistan should not even bother.

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misterbhai

Jan 13, 2016 02:48am

Pakistan has no desire to play India. I fear for Pakistan player's security during T20 WC.

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zeeshandxb

Jan 13, 2016 03:43am

India pakistan india pakistan india did this pakistan did this india did that pakistan did that. War or words, war of proxies, war of ideologies, war of mind sickening statements. I am really sick and tired of this hate. Can it just be normal without too much love or hate? Can they both atleast learn to ignore and agree to disagree on issues and move on with life? Seriously its too much

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Omar

Jan 13, 2016 04:05am

We should set aside our differences with India and put our ego down . Our cricket body is bankrupt , we need to play with India . One game with India gives us ( each players and our PCB ) enough money to survive for the whole year . We don't make even 20% of that when we play with any other team in the world . No world sponsor is ready to put money on the game where Pakistan is playing . England and Australia has sponsors but they direct their attention towards other sporting events when Pakistan is involved . And small time sponsors don't even pay us peanuts . We need to understand this reality . Cricket has risen lot of poverty stricken players to the riches . This how much important India is to every one in the world of cricket .

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Melbournian

Jan 13, 2016 05:05am

Good riddance.

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Arif

Jan 13, 2016 05:36am

All these actions clearly shows the mindset of banya. They signed MoU just to get Pakistan's consent and now that they got what they wanted, the are showing how stoop they can go.

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سے Shaam (Hanafi)

Jan 13, 2016 06:47am

With this decision by BCCI, Pakistan cricket team will become an associate team in no time. Players are mediocre and PCB is corrupt...

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Cosmo

Jan 13, 2016 08:24am

@azkhan71 Right, like in all those wc games?

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An_Indian

Jan 13, 2016 09:57am

@kashmir Good Luck!

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Harsh

Jan 13, 2016 12:02pm

No cricket with you till your dangerous bowlers retire.

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kash

Jan 13, 2016 01:38pm

In all this, I blame ICC. India is just being the bully it always is but what exactly have the icc done. What ever happened to Giles Clarke's meetings. Giles Clarke in all this has been royally screwed and I fell really sorry for him. PCB should say no to icc t20 and Aisa Cup but they will not as they trying to be hospitable. The pcb is weak just like nation on a whole. If Pakistan was strong internationally then the pcb would have made a furore over India's refusal but its a sign of the times that Pakistan on the whole has no clout on the international arena which is extremely sad. btw I am a Pakistani born and bred in England.

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Ali

Jan 13, 2016 02:18pm

Pakistan and India got big problems in every way be honest Pakistan and Indias people got no brains they like talking and they think to much of them self and making lots of problems for poor people and children stop talking bad about each other and stop writing bad things about Pakistan and India

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Que

Jan 13, 2016 02:26pm

Who cares about India!!!

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Indian

Jan 13, 2016 03:25pm

@AXH Perhaps you dont but PCB leaves no stone unturned to do that...

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Logic

Jan 13, 2016 03:44pm

@Arif You think with more than 75% of revenues coming from India We had any problem in getting things done with or without Paksitan's support.. Be a little rational..

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M T Hasan

Jan 14, 2016 01:57am

The ICC should take note that if this apartheid policy is maintained by the BCCI despite MOUs and politically inspired procastination the essence of the sport is brought into disrepute.Perhaps an alternative venue should be considered for the T20 championship this March.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jan 14, 2016 03:46am

What a serious joke?

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South Indian

Jan 14, 2016 05:49pm

PCB is behind BCCI for the series to overcome PCB's financial problems.. BCCI never had any interest in the series.. plz understand that and stop pusing for series..

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