LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board, in yet another attempt, conveyed it to the BCCI on Saturday to inform it about its final decision regarding the bilateral series in the next couple of days; otherwise, the PCB has the right to cancel the series since time is not sufficient for making arrangements.

The PCB had proposed to the BCCI to play the three-match ODI and two-match T20 series from Dec 15 to Jan 4 but the Indian board failed to confirm the schedule and kept the PCB waiting for the go-ahead from the Indian government.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told Dawn that he had asked the BCCI to give a final reply, either positive or otherwise, in the next couple of days as the PCB had got short time to make administrative and cricketing arrangements for the series.

“It is very unfortunate that confusion still prevails. And under these circumstances, it won’t be easy for any organisation to complete all arrangements well before time,” remarked the PCB chief.

“The PCB has played a positive role in managing the affairs to restore the bilateral series and now the ball is in India’s court,” he further said.

“I believe that a majority of Indians love to watch matches between India and Pakistan. But it is unfortunate that hardly any opportunity has been given to them for the last eight years,” commented the PCB chief.

Asked if the PCB would consider any plan B in case the BCCI didn’t reply in the affirmative, the chairman said the PCB had no plan B as the Board was running short of time to hold any other activity.

He said after a short meeting between prime ministers of Pakistan and India in Paris, there was a hope for a positive reply for the series from India but now things are still not clear.

Though former chief of the England and Wales Cricket Board Giles Clarke also arranged a meeting between the two cricket boards in Dubai last month to solve the issue amicably, nothing tangible came out for PCB which is in need of such a high-profile series against India to boost its finances.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board had claimed that Clarke would announce the final decision about the said series after getting input of both the governments.

The government of Pakistan gave permission to the PCB to host the Indian team at neutral venues in Sri Lanka but the Indian board got cold feet to visit Sri Lanka.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2015