PCB seeks final decision on India-Pakistan series by September 29

The proposed Indian tour to Pakistan during the forthcoming winter still hangs by the thread and in an effort to end this impasse, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), General Tauqir Zia on Tuesday urged his Indian counterpart to make a final decision on the issue.

Speaking to Agence France Presse (AFP) before leaving for Dubai to attend the Asian Cricket Foundation (ACF) meeting, Zia said that the PCB is willing to give the BCCI until September 29 to make up their mind, after which they will pursue alternative arrangements. September 29 is also the date that has been fixed for the Annual General Body Meeting of the BCCI in Chennai.

Zia said that in case India declined to tour Pakistan, the PCB will have to consider seriously the possibility of playing a series against Bangladesh or to invite a World XI to play against Pakistan.

Pakistan had earlier extended an invitation to India for a series of three Tests and five one-day internationals from December to February. However the series came under a cloud after the Indian Sports Ministry refused permission for the Indian team to play the Sahara Cup in Toronto for the second year running in wake of trouble in the Kashmir Valley.

Zia said that whenever he met his Indian counterparts, they show avid interest in an India-Pakistan series and rued that the BCCI's decisions are dependent on their Government. Zia is expecting the out come of a decision on the tour after a talk with the BCCI President AC Muthiah whom he is meeting in Dubai.

Zia said that during his meeting he would try and convince Muthiah that India and Pakistan should meet each other in the larger interest of the game and added that both the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Asian Cricket Foundation (ACF) would be deemed successful only if the two countries play each other.