NEW DELHI: BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla has made it clear that the resumption of bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan is subject to the Indian government’s approval. As a senior BCCI official, he emphasised that the board will follow the government’s decision on this matter.
Shukla acknowledged that fans from both countries desire the resumption of bilateral ties, but he did not sound optimistic about the idea of playing at a neutral venue.
“As far as you are asking about (cricket) between the two countries, it is very categorical and clear that it is the (Indian) government’s decision. Whatever the government of India says, we will go as per them,” Shukla told the Pakistan media. “Pakistan is hosting an international tournament after a long time and it is a good thing. They have organised it well.”
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“It is true that fans from both the countries want the teams to play but the BCCI policy has been, and PCB would too have such a policy, that bilateral matches should be held on each other’s soil and not at a third (or) neutral venue,” he added. “This has been BCCI’s consistent policy. There is also a provision in the ICC which is about the government’s consent. It is a big provision, so it happens according to the point of view of government’s consent.”
Regarding the Champions Trophy, Shukla refuted the argument that the Indian team has enjoyed an unfair advantage by playing all their matches at a single venue.
“Every other country would offer to host India-Pakistan, who would not?” the veteran noted. “We (BCCI) keep our point in front of the government, but they decide after their deliberations. When the government takes a decision, it is after considering a lot of aspects. It is their internal matter.”
He further asserted that the Indian team does not rely on favorable pitches but rather on their performances and the players’ strengths, saying, “When this decision was taken at the ICC level, it was decided that India-centric matches will be in Dubai and the rest of the matches will be in Pakistan, so it is not a question of fair or unfair. The Indian team doesn’t depend on pitches, even there (in Dubai) there are different kinds of pitches. The team plays on its performances, the players play on their strengths and not depend on pitches.”
On the subject of the Asia Cup scheduling, Shukla stated, “You know it is status quo, so it will happen accordingly. I had come here for the Asia Cup as well. Roger Binny was also there and Jay Shah has also been cooperating completely.”