PCB v BCCI battle is not ending anytime soon

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) battle against their Indian counterparts, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not coming to a climax anytime soon. Hence, those who have their eyes fixed on the mouth-watering tussle can relax for the time being. A PCB official has confirmed that the matter is not on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) agenda for the next executive board meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Auckland next week.

The matter began when BCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PCB, agreeing that the two rival teams will engage in six bilateral series between 2015 to 2023. However, BCCI later decided to dishonour the MoU, stating lack of government clearance. This infuriated the officials of PCB and they decided to take legal action against them. They later hired an English law firm to handle the case and demanded a heavy compensation of around $70 million for the losses they have incurred.

But the official has confirmed that people will have to wait for a final verdict, as immediate results aren’t expected. “No, it is not on the agenda and if anything Pakistan will put up this issue for finalisation at the next ICC meeting which will be held after Auckland. The reason for this is, the PCB is still finalising the claim after continuing consultations with a legal firm in London. After which the world governing body has to appoint a three or four member disputes resolution committee to hear out the case,” he said, as quoted by PTI.

BCCI must show evidence

The BCCI officials have always avoided the bilateral series, saying that they do not have the government clearance. Now, PCB has demanded an evidence and documentation which proves that they actually did make an attempt to seek clearance from the government to play the series at a neutral venue.

“Pakistan’s contention is that the BCCI must show through documentation and evidence that indeed it did try to seek clearance from the government to play the series with Pakistan at neutral venues but their government refused to give the permission. Our insistence is simple that India’s refusal to play us has cost us lot of money and they have even backed out of the MoU signed with us in 2014 to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023,” the official concluded.