India says no to PCB

MUMBAI - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) received a 'cold response from the Indian cricket officials for a bilateral series between two rival countries, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf said on Wednesday. Speaking exclusively from Singapore after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting, Zaka said: We were keen to have open dialogue with the BCCI president, N Srinivasan, but unfortunately he didn't turn up and instead sent Chief Operating Officer Ratnakar Shetty". "I am being told by the BCCI official that the Indian government is not yet permitting to play against us", Ashraf disclosed. "In this situation, I have proposed to play the series of matches between Pakistan XI and Asian XI. The matter is to be discussed in the next ACC meeting", Ashraf added. "I have also proposed to hold the next ACC meeting in Pakistan", the chairman signed off. The report said there were many hurdles in the way, including the organisation of the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, India's packed international schedule and the Indian Premier League, which is due to start from second week of April. "The PCB officials who went to attend the ACC meeting and talked with Indian board officials on the sidelines didn't get a very positive response about resumption of bilateral ties, including the scheduled series in India next year," the report quoting PCB sources said. It said it was because of this that the Pakistan government had still not given permission to PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf, to travel to India this month for talks. "Perhaps the Pakistan government has sensed the existing scenario and that is why Ashraf has still not got a green signal from concerned quarters to visit India," it claimed. Interestingly, the Asia Cup venue and dates were finalised last year when Indo-Pak relations were improving after the 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali. Pakistan's PM travelled to Mohali for the match on the invitation of his Indian counterpart. The ACC meeting in Singapore discussed the dates for the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be held in March. Interestingly, the PCB has been insisting that the Asia Cup dates can be rescheduled if the BCCI confirms it will host Pakistan next year in March-April. "There is still hope that Pakistan and India might end up playing a one-day and T20 series in the short span of time available to the Indian board in March-April," a source in the PCB said.