Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan on Monday said that he is hoping for the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to come out with a response soon on the proposed bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan.
“For last 2-3 days, Indian High Commissioner was here for a farewell visit. He did not have much information relating to this (proposed tour). But informally, we have been told that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj will come out with a brief on this issue, which will be discussed government to government. So we are awaiting that now,” Shaharyar told reporters.
Meanwhile, senior BCCI functionary Rajiv Shukla said in New Delhi that the Board will abide by the government decision.
“When you are having trade with Pakistan, both the governments are engaged in having foreign secretary level talks, minister-to-minister talks. Both the Prime Ministers are exchanging pleasantries with each other, then why the regular cricket should be singled out? Why should cricket be kept in isolation? I raised this in Parliament also today,” Shukla said.
“But still I would say whatever the government will decide about Indo-Pak series, we will abide by that and if the government decides to play, we will play and if it says the atmosphere is not conducive to play, we will not play.
“From our side, there is no deadline. Let’s wait for the government’s response. They have given a memorandum to me, which I will forward to the BCCI president, if he, after going through it finds it fit, it will be placed in the working committee,” he added.
