Fate of Indo-Pak bilateral series to be known in 2 months time

With uncertainty hanging over the resumption of Indo-Pak bilateral cricket ties later this year, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has said that they have an alternate plan in hand if the proposed series against the neighbours in the United Arab Emirates does not materialise.

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Refusing to divulge any further details, the Pakistan Cricket Board chief said the fate of the Indo-Pak series will be decided in two months time.

"We know there is always such a possibility when it comes to Indo-Pak relations but we think the situation will be clear in two months time," Khan said here.

"We have a Plan B in case the series (against India) cannot be held but I can't share the details of that now. If such a situation is created we can call alternative teams," he said.

Reliable sources in the PCB confirmed that the Board was in talks with two other cricket playing nations to prepare a contingency plan.

Pakistan is due to host India in the UAE in December this year as part of a six series Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two Boards last year.

Khan said that at present there was 70 per cent chance that the Indo-Pak series would take place if no major untoward incident happens in context with the relations between the two countries.

India has not played Pakistan in a bilateral Test series since 2007 after the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008.

Pakistan did tour India for a short limited over series in the winter of 2012.

Khan also said that the vibes coming from India were positive but any untoward incident could obstruct the series.

"Things need to be sorted out on that front, and especially between the BCCI and the Dubai based Ten Sports network which has brought the rights to our international cricket," the PCB chief said.

"I hope this issue is resolved soon it would make it easier to organise the series in December," he added.

Khan also insisted that while the series was very important for Pakistan for different reasons it was also equally important for India and world cricket.