India said it won't play a bilateral cricket series with Pakistan as long as Islamabad continues to support and sponsor cross-border terrorism. Sports Minister Vijay Goel made it clear that the Indian government won't allow the bilateral cricket series as long as Pakistan continues to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy.
"The BCCI should come up with a suggestion or proposal in this regard only after consulting the government. I had said earlier also that the possibilities of bilateral series with Pakistan are very remote," Goel said.
"As long as Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorists, it will not be possible to have sporting ties between the two countries. Terrorism and sports will not run side by side," he added. India and Pakistan, however, will continue to play each other in international tournaments. "As far as multi-lateral events are concerned, we have no control over those. So the two countries will continue to play each other in such tournaments," Goel said.
Goel's remarks came ahead of a meeting between officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Dubai to discuss possibilities of a bilateral series.
The Indian board was represented by BCCI Acting Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary, CEO Rahul Johri and General Manager (Cricket Operations) M.V. Sridhar while the Pakistani delegation was led by PCB Executive Committee head Najam Sethi. Following the Sports Minister's declaration, the BCCI officials reportedly told their PCB counterparts that the series will not go ahead.
"The delegations of the BCCI and PCB have met in Dubai and shared their stated positions. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. Earlier in the day, Chaudhary had said that a bilateral series with Pakistan was possible if the government gave the go-ahead.
Pakistan last visited India in December 2012 for a limited overs series that included three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20I). India have not played Pakistan in a full bilateral series since 2007 when Pakistan visited India to play five ODIs and a one-off Test match.
