India-Pakistan series: There was no need for BCCI to meet PCB, says Vijay Goel

Union sports minister Vijay Goel slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for holding talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board for a cricket series between the two nations. 

Goel said that the BCCI officials knew beforehand that such events were subject to clearance from the government.

"I would want know why they went ahead with the meeting (when they knew that the series was subject to government clearance). What I can say is that we cannot play bilateral series with Pakistan until it stops cross-border terrorism," Goel told PTI when asked about the meeting between BCCI and PCB in Dubai on Monday.

The meeting between the two boards did not yield any decisive outcome and slim hopes of resumption of bilateral ties in the near future were dashed with outright rejection from the Indian government. 

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

The BCCI, represented by joint secretary Amitabh Choudhary along with CEO Rahul Johri and GM (Cricket Operations) MV Sridhar, discussed the pressing issues including the 60 million dollar compensation demanded by the PCB. 

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sent a legal notice to BCCI claiming damages to the tune of 60 million dollar (Rs 387 crore approx) for allegedly not honouring the MoU that had stated five bilateral series in the cycle between 2015-2023. 

Goel also met Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla at his residence today and the two spoke about development of sports in north-eastern state. "We had already sanctioned a football field costing Rs 4.5 crore and we have now approved another synthetic football turf," added Goel.