India Pakistan can't play bilateral series amid ongoing tensions, says Sports Minister Vijay Goel on BCCI-PCB meet in Dubai

Union Minister Vijay Goel has said that India and Pakistan can't play any bilateral series until 'cross-border terrorism' continue from Pak soil. The minister's statement came on the lines of PCB-BCCI meet held in Dubai.

The minister's firm statement comes on a day the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board are meeting in Dubai to discuss their bilateral ties, which have remained suspended since 2012 because of diplomatic tensions after terror attacks in India. 

India and Pakistan are however set to play each other in the ICC Champions Trophy in UK in June. Both teams are in the same group and will clash at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 4.

"BCCI should speak to the government before giving anyproposal to Pakistan. I have made it clear that bilateralcricket with Pakistan is not possible till the time there iscross-border terror. We have, however, no say on multilateralevents (ICC tournaments)," Goel told reporters at New Delhi.  

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"PCB Chairman, Shaharyar Khan, Najam Sethi and chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmad are representing Pakistan at the Dubai meeting which is being attended by BCCI officials and a member of the interim committee in India," one source said.     

It is learnt that the BCCI officials led by joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary will explain to their PCB counterparts that the series can't be held without governmentpermission and would also request them to withdraw the case.   

If Pakistan refuses to budge, it is learnt that no way will BCCI pay any compensation in this case. The cash-strapped PCB's finances heavily depend on aseries with India which would mean a financial windfall for the nation, where no international cricketing activity hastaken place since terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team.

The PCB has already sent a notice of intent to the BCCI claiming compensation of around USD 69.4 million for India not honouring the MOU signed between the two boards in 2014 to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.     

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PCB now also wants the BCCI to play a short ODI series with Pakistan at any neutral venue in return for the tour made by the Pakistan team to India in the winter of 2012/13 when Zaka Ashraf was the PCB chairman.     

According to the ICC Future Tours Programme, the Indian cricket team is scheduled to play Pakistan in a bilateral series later in 2017 but hostilities from across the border are likely to scupper any chance of a cricket series.