Shukla optimistic of Govt. clearance for India-Pak series

Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla pushed for the resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan, saying the game should not be brought into political controversies.

The BCCI is awaiting response from the government on the fate of a much-talked-about series next month while the Pakistan Cricket Board has got the clearance from its government.

"I am optimistic that the government will give the go-ahead to us. Both the parties (Boards) have agreed for Sri Lanka as a venue. The whole idea is to resume cricket between the two countries," Shukla said.

Asked about voices that oppose the resumption of cricket ties, Shukla said cricket should be kept separate from politics.

"From Day 1 I have been maintaining that cricket should not be brought into political controversy. Even the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee government had given the nod in worse situation for resumption of cricket. We had sent the Indian team to Pakistan. I think, we should play Pakistan," Shukla told Times Now.

Earlier on Thursday, there were reports that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has granted permission to the PCB for the bilateral cricket series in Sri Lanka.

Official sources in the ministry of inter-provincial co-ordination said that Pakistan’s prime minister gave the clearance before leaving for an official tour to Malta.

"The PM has responded to the letter sent to him by the PCB chairman, Shaharyar Khan, and he has said that Pakistan should play India in Sri Lanka for a short series given the current security situation," a source said.

"The PM made the point that while foreign teams are not playing in Pakistan, the security situation for Pakistanis in India is also not clear, so Sri Lanka is a good option," the source added.

A PM’s house statement was also quoted in the Express Tribune' which said, "Given the current security situation, PCB should hold short series with India at a third location."

It also said the PM House had sent a letter to the PCB granting them permission for the series and directing them to carefully view the security situation as well.

Sri Lanka has emerged as the neutral venue for the planned series, which is likely to have three ODIs and two T20s, tentatively scheduled between December 15 and first week of January.

Both countries have not played Test cricket since 2007 but Pakistan toured India in the winter of 2012-13 for a short limited-overs’ series.