BCCI yet to get a ‘go ahead’ from Indian govt. for Pak tour to India

Despite repeated requests from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to resume cricket ties with India and push its players in the IPL, the BCCI is unable to offer any immediate solutions, says a report in The Times Of India.

Reason? The Board is yet to get a “go ahead” from the Indian Government. And this one will have to come from the highest authorities in the government — who may not be in a tearing hurry to say yes. Despite a hectic international calendar at home till March next year, BCCI are considering a one-off series against Pakistan, but only after the government gives a clear indication.

Sources say that the BCCI officials will approach the authorities once again to seek a clear directive with regards to Pakistan’s trip to India. “We will announce the arrival of the Pakistani team only after the government gives us the nod to allow Pakistan players in India. As far as the BCCI is concerned, the Board will do whatever it takes to revive the series, but we can’t commit when Pakistan will tour India,” a top BCCI official, who didn’t want to be named, told TOI on Monday.

Meanwhile, left-arm seamer Delorn Johnson and skipper Veeraswamy Permaul wreaked havoc as they helped West Indies ‘A’ thrash India ‘A’ by 125 runs to level the three-match Test series 1-1 here on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 220, spineless batting by Gen-Next saw India A being bundled out for a paltry 94 as Johnson (6-34) and Permaul (4-22) shared the spoils. Permaul had impressive match-figures of nine for 80 to show for his efforts while Johnson returned with figures of eight for 62.  Such was the domination by the Caribbean duo that the match ended before lunch with India ‘A’ losing six wickets for 37 runs, say media reports.

According to a report in The TOI. three senior members of Pakistan’s hockey team Waseem Ahmed, Shakeel Abbasi and Mohammad Imran were denied visas by the Royal Netherlands Embassy, which has ended their hopes of being a part of the training tour of Europe, according to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). The three were recalled to the national side two days before the team’s departure for Belgium where Pakistan will also take on the Netherlands and Germany.