The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are at loggerheads over the ICC's new Future Tours Program as the PCB claims that the Indian board is reluctant to give definite time frames for the upcoming series.
Sources in the PCB aware of the discussions at the ICC chief executives meeting held recently in Dubai to discuss the 2012-2020 FTP confirmed that India had agreed to play against Pakistan in this period but has not given specific dates.
"The PCB's biggest issue is that India has said it would play twice against Pakistan at neutral venues but has given no dates. Secondly they are not willing to give enough time to Pakistan to play a full series," one source said.
"The time frame given by India means that Pakistan cannot play a full series against it and secondly the Indian board has made it clear any matches against Pakistan would be dependent on clearance from their government," he said.
The source disclosed that in the new FTP, India had suggested twice touring Pakistan for short series and host Pakistan twice.
"The PCB is not happy with the situation because it wants a longer series meaning more matches against India and confirmed dates. On other hand, India has just said they would play Pakistan in the periods they are free of other commitments in the FTP."
The source said PCB's biggest concern is that less number of matches against India mean loss of valuable finances.
"The cancellation of two series against India means a loss of around US$ 70 million for the PCB which is a lot of money."
Pakistan's next scheduled series against India is also in 2012.
India has not played a bilateral series against Pakistan since 2007. The Indians were due to tour Pakistan in early 2009 for a full series but the plan was cancelled due to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
The source also disclosed that the PCB is unhappy that the ICC after earlier agreeing is now not willing to give icon status to India-Pakistan series.
"Allowing icon status would have meant that where Pakistan played two series against a particular team in the FTP against India it would have played three because of its icon status," the source stated.
The source said Pakistan is also not happy with other teams like Australia not giving a full series to Pakistan.
"Basically the Australians and some other teams have scheduled split tours against Pakistan and that is not making the PCB happy as it means additional production costs in broadcasting the series."
