Bilateral cricket relations between India and Pakistan have been stalled for many years. Both the sides are facing each other only in ICC events these days, the last encounter being in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai. The last time the two sides met in a bilateral series was in the 2012/13 season when Pakistan toured India in December/January for two T20Is and three ODIs.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja had attempted to start a four-nation series involving India (the other two being England and Australia), but the idea was rejected by the ICC Board. During a press conference on Friday (June 25), Raja revealed that he was invited by Sourav Ganguly to the Indian Premier League on two separate occasions; However, he did not go due to possible anger from Pakistani fans.
“Look, I have had other conversations with Sourav Ganguly. I keep telling them that there are 2-3 cricketers who are the chairman or chairman of the board at the moment. What if we can’t make a difference? Unfortunately, he also has his own concerns. On two separate occasions he invited me to the IPL; Once in Dubai and once this year. I was confused about whether to attend or not. I thought the fans would not spare me if I went there. It may have the spirit of cricket (participating in IPL), yes, but right now, there are some cracks that need to be filled as it is a political game,” said Raja.
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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). In the bidding document for the recent media-rights auction of the ICC AGM IPL in July, the BCCI had also stated that the number of matches in the IPL could go up to 84 in 2025 and 2026 and 94 in 2027.
But, the PCB’s comment comes after BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s recent remarks that the Indian board will get an extended window for the IPL in the next FTP cycle of the ICC, thereby ensuring that ‘all top international cricketers can participate’ ‘.
However, there has been no announcement from the ICC regarding the window and the FTP for the next eight-year cycle is yet to be finalised. Notably, the Indian Premier League (IPL) does not allow players from Pakistan to participate except for the league’s first season in 2008 due to poor political relations between the two countries. As a result, the IPL window arguably affects Pakistan’s international season more than the other members.
“No announcement has been made on extending the IPL window. I have views on this which we will take up at the ICC forum in the July meeting,” PCB chairman Ramiz Raja said during a press conference on Friday.
(with IANS inputs)