Pakistan-India Expected To Play Four Bilateral Series By 2019

Following the abolishment of ICC’s old Future Tour Programme (FTP) after the demise of the Big 3, the council has proposed a new future tour programme for test playing nations up until 2019.

Chairman PCB, Najam Sethi, has yet again claimed that the new FTP proposes four bilateral series between the arch rivals, Pakistan and India.

Najam Sethi, along with Subhan Ahmad, will attend an ICC meeting on October 9 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Pakistan-India Series Talk

PCB had earlier decided to file a case against BCCI for violating the MoU that was signed between the two boards.

While talking to a news agency Chairman PCB said:

We are ready to sit on table with India and resume bilateral cricketing ties with arch-rivals. If they are willing to resume cricketing ties, which are in the best interest of cricket and can bridge gap as people want to watch Pakistan-India in action again, it would be good for cricket and if they don’t then we are ready for the next step.

‘Karachi Stadium Not Ready For International Cricket’

Talking about the possibility of holding international games in other major cities of Pakistan, Sethi said:

For the time-being, it would be difficult to convince international teams and players to agree to play in other cities, as ICC has given permission of playing matches only in Lahore, after witnessing the PSL final and World XI series here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Sethi added that although international matches can be held in Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad but PCB is still facing some security problems especially in South Punjab.

We are also working on improving National Stadium in Karachi, we can host 6000 plus spectators there, but it would take around a year or two before making it a well-furnished venue.

We can’t prepare the stadium in next three months, so let us work on this. We are paying full heed towards convincing the ICC and international teams to visit other major cities and right now after Lahore, our main focus is Karachi.

Nothing But Appreciation For PSL and Independence Cup Crowd

He appreciated the crowd during independence for being well-disciplined which gave a positive message to the international community.

After successful conduct of World XI, things are changing fast and I can feel that the ICC and other major stakeholders are now serious about Pakistan cricket and helping us in reviving full-fledged cricket here.

“All have witnessed that how much respect and hospitality we extend to our guests. The way, the people thronged the Gaddafi Stadium and remained disciplined and cheered for both the teams, is a clear indication that Pakistanis love sports and know well how to welcome the guests,” Sethi concluded.