NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejected the proposal of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to host a bilateral Test series between arch-rivals Pakistan and India, Indian media reported.
According to English Newspaper The Telegraph, the ECB contacted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and BCCI and offered to be a neutral venue for the much-anticipated bilateral Test series between the two rivals.
“England have offered to be a neutral host for future Pakistan-India Test series opening the possibility of the two countries playing bilateral cricket for the first time in more than 15 years,” The Telegraph claimed.
“The matches would draw huge audiences in the United Kingdom, which has a strong South Asian population, and it will also create a lot of sponsorship and television viewers,” the Telegraph explained the reason behind the offer.
The BCCI, however, has turned down the informal proposal from the English Board as according to a report citing a close source to the Indian cricket authority said the odds of a bilateral series in the foreseeable future are “next to nil.”
Meanwhile, the PCB has also taken a similar stance on the proposal and displayed reluctance to play India at a neutral venue.
“It’s an unofficial offer and nothing was accepted. PCB wishes to host India as it’s Pakistan’s turn officially,” the sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan and India last came face to face in a bilateral series and 2012 when Pakistan toured India for a three-match ODI and two-match T20I series, with the visiting side winning the ODI series 2-1 while the T20I series ended in a draw.
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