Sri Lanka finalised as hosts for Pakistan-India series

Published November 23, 2015
Pakistan and India last met at the World Cup earlier this year. — AP/file
Pakistan and India last met at the World Cup earlier this year. — AP/file

Sri Lanka has been finalised as the venue for Pakistan's 'home' series against India after an agreement was finally reached between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday.

An official announcement is due at the end of this month after the boards get permission from their respective governments but according to a source there will be no further deliberations on the venue of the much-awaited Pakistan-India series.

The meeting between PCB chief Shaharyar Khan and BCCI president Shashank Manohar on Sunday ended in a deadlock when the issue of the venue was raised.

“Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were considered as the venues and finally it was agreed that Sri Lanka was the right choice to host the Indo-Pak series,” said the source.

The series, comprising three ODIs and two T20s, is expected to kick off on December 20, most likely in Pallekele or Colombo.

“PCB can benefit from the Indo-Pak series in Sri Lanka by earning up to Rs3 billion ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in February next year,” revealed the source.

The newly-elected president of the BCCI Shashank Manohar, who is in Dubai to familiarise with the working of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as its new chairman, invited PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan for a meeting at the ICC headquarters on Sunday.

The meeting was also attended by PCB Executive Committee head Najam Sethi and Giles Clarke, the president of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the head of a task force formed to expedite the return of cricket to Pakistan.

Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral series since 2007.

Under the MoU both the boards had agreed in 2014, six series were scheduled between 2015 and 2023, with four series to be hosted by Pakistan.

But all series were subject to clearance from the respective governments.

The December-January series comprises two Tests, five One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals but with time running out the series is likely to be shortened to limited over matches.

Opinion

Editorial

X post facto
19 Apr, 2024

X post facto

AS has become its modus operandi, the state is using smoke and mirrors to try to justify its decision to ban X,...
Insufficient inquiry
19 Apr, 2024

Insufficient inquiry

UNLESS the state is honest about the mistakes its functionaries have made, we will be doomed to repeat our follies....
Melting glaciers
19 Apr, 2024

Melting glaciers

AFTER several rain-related deaths in KP in recent days, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has sprung into...
IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...