Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan on Wednesday said the Indian cricket board has so far not contacted the PCB regarding the holding of any bilateral series, DawnNews reported.

The PCB chairman was reacting to the news circulating in Indian media about Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly seeking permission from the Indian government to play a series with Pakistan on a neutral venue.

“I got to know about this development through Indian media,” Khan said, adding that “the BCCI is probably afraid of the International Cricket Board (ICC) and therefore wants to play the series now”.

Last year the ICC had deducted points of Indian women cricket team for not playing series against Pakistan, said the PCB chairman.

Earlier there were reports that India could play Pakistan in Dubai later this year if the government gives the go-ahead to the Indian cricket board.

The BCCI has written to the Home Ministry, seeking permission to play Pakistan to complete their obligations under the Future Tours and Programme (FTP) agreement which was inked in 2014, IndianExpress reported.

Earlier, when it was headed by Shashank Manohar, the BCCI wanted to host Pakistan for a short series in 2016 but did not get government clearance owing to tension between the two countries and the subsequent terror attacks on Indian soil.

The Indian Express reported that the BCCI has now approached the Home Ministry, seeking government permission. And this time, the Indian team is willing to play a series in Dubai which is the home venue of the Pakistan team.