BCCI to seek government nod to hold India-Pakistan series later this year: Report

New Delhi: Talks of holding a proposed India-Pakistan cricket series in December-January gathered steam on Tuesday.

According to reports, the BCCI is showing a renewed interest in hosting the five ODIs and two T20s following its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai. It has also been learnt that a short series could be held between December 15 and January 7.

The December-January period is the only window available before the BCCI as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with its counterpart last year.

It has also been learnt that the series is likely to take place in India rather than a neutral venue. IPL Governing Council chairman and senior BCCI functionary Rajeev Shukla stated that, "We will like to play the December series in India instead of us going to a neutral venue. The Indian team can't go to Pakistan because of safety issues. No international cricket is happening there. We also don't want to play at a neutral venue. So, the series has to happen in India.”

As per the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Future Tours Programme, Pakistan are to first host India at a home series – UAE, that is – in December after the two Boards agreed to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. Four of those series will be hosted by Pakistan. The six tours will comprise 14 Tests, 30 ODIs and 12 T20s.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also confirmed that the Pakistan series can happen and that it will seek the Union government’s permission to organise Indo-Pak cricket series in December.

According to a report in the Indian Express, talks between BCCI and the government have begun, and they will continue post-Diwali through the good offices of BCCI secretary, Anurag Thakur.

A top BCCI official has also said that the board is willing to cut down the tour to three ODIs and two T20Is, if the government permits.

India will hope political intervention isn't there so that a series could be held against its arch rivals.