BCCI-PCB MoU under the scanner over 'unethical' proposal for Indo-Pak series
Details of the MoU indicated that the erstwhile BCCI regime of 2014, led by the ousted N Srinivasan, inked the agreement in lieu of PCB's vote in favour of the 'Big Three' - India, Australia and England - taking over the ICC.
The first of those proposed bilateral series was expected to be held later this month in Sri Lanka, but the proposal still awaits approval of the Indian government.
The thorn in the flesh for BCCI could be the fact that should the Shashank Manohar-led board decides to pull out of the series for any reasons, the PCB can sue the Indian board to the tune of $75 million.
Interestingly, Manohar, in a meeting with his counterpart, PCB chairman Shahryar Khan, on November 22 in Dubai had agreed upon Sri Lanka as the neutral venue for the December series - pending approval from their respective governments.
While Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave his nod to the series within the next two days, the BCCI still awaits a decisive response from the Narendra Modi-led Indian government.
India had refused to play the series in the UAE, which Pakistan has adopted for all its 'home' series since the 2009 Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan team, and Pakistan refused BCCI's offer to play the series in India.
Sri Lanka as a venue suited Pakistan more since it would prevent any breach of contract with the broadcasters of their home series, i.e., TEN network. A series in India would not have allowed TEN to broadcast the matches as the STAR group has the telecast rights for all home cricket in India.
The love-and-hate relationship between controversy-ridden Srinivasan and current BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur is not a secret, and it won't be surprise if the revival of Indo-Pak cricket ties is put on the backburner by the BCCI and the ruling BJP government that has always taken a tough stands on the terror activities emanating from Pakistan.
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