The Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) has reportedly turned down the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) informal proposal of hosting India vs Pakistan Test series in England.
As per reports, BCCI’s sources have said that the chances of an Indo-Pak bilateral series in the near future are “next to nil”.
Moreover, many reports suggests that the BCCI officials have said that the Indian government will take a call on such matters and as of now, their their stance remains the same.
Barring the ICC events, the two sides have not played against each other in any bilateral series in any format since January 2013 and their last Test match was played in December 2007.
Earlier on Tuesday, the ECB had offered to host a red-ball series between arch rivals India and Pakistan.
According to a report by the Telegraph, ECB’s deputy chairman Martin Darlow has held talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during the ongoing T20I series between England and Pakistan. However, the report had also suggested that despite the ECB’s offer, PCB was not keen on playing in a neutral venue as only recently they have started to host international cricket, ending a decade-long exile.
The report also said that although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the PCB enjoy good relationships with each other, it will require a massive change in political mood between the governments of the two countries.
Following the infamous 2008 Mumbai Terror attacks, India and Pakistan have only played each other in ICC events or the Asia Cup.
Also, due to the political tensions between the two countries, the World Test Championship (WTC) has not seen India and Pakistan being drawn with each other in the first three editions as it will require a bilateral series and an India-Pakistan Test would only happen if both teams end up reaching the final of the event.