PCB insists it should host India in UAE

The PCB's governing board has endorsed its chairman Shaharyar Khan's view to not play their home series against India in India. The board reaffirmed its stance and expected the BCCI to fulfill its agreement to play Pakistan in the UAE between December 8 and January 9.

"The BoG has reaffirmed its position regarding the scheduled Pakistan-India series," Shaharyar said after the meeting in Lahore. "BoG has restated that the BCCI has signed an agreement with the PCB to play the series in UAE. Under the circumstances the BoG insists that the BCCI should honour its pledge to play in the UAE. There is no reason to justify the BCCI asking the PCB to play the series in India because there's no security issue involved playing the series in UAE.

"They should adhere to that agreement and we should not go to India. So that's what BoG discussed today and after that they have advised us. In reality where MoUs are signed, it's not binding but there's a legal opinion that it's an agreement as you have given something against it."

A day after Shaharyar had revealed that BCCI president Shashank Manohar had offered to host Pakistan in India in December, he made it clear the bilateral series would only be possible if India toured the UAE. The BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur on the other hand had said the Indian government would not grant permission for India to play Pakistan in the UAE.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had also expressed his disapproval regarding Pakistan playing in India. "This is not about money; it's an issue that involves Pakistan's dignity and honour," he said. "Though the final decision is to be taken by the Prime Minister, I will oppose any tour to India under the present circumstances if it comes under discussion at a cabinet meeting or some other forum."

The PCB said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the BCCI to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. Four of those series will be hosted by Pakistan and the six tours will include up to 14 Tests, 30 ODIs and 12 T20s.

"We won't play against them," said Shaharyar said, when asked what if the BCCI refuse to play in the UAE. "Some people think that if Pakistan doesn't play against India, whether in UAE or in India, then we will go bankrupt. But we have not been playing for the last eight years and still we have survived. We won't be getting a bonus, but it's all right if you are not playing against us.

"We will suffer a loss and we understand we have to tighten our belts and have to do downsizing but we have to pass through it. We have to sacrifice this because of the country but at the same time we are doing fine with our finances and can continue."

The MOU with the BCCI was a result of the PCB's conditional support for the ICC revamp, a move pushed for by the BCCI, CA and ECB that restructured the power and revenue structure of the governing body. When asked if supporting the revamp was the wrong move, Shaharyar said commitments were made to be fulfilled at this level.