New Delhi: The government of India has given its green signal to the most anticipated India-Pakistan cricket series to be held in UAE in December this year, according to sources.
The decision came after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan met Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur.
The government reportedly have no issues with the Indo-Pak series and it beleives that relations between the two countries can be made better with the cricket diplomacy.
It is a hisotric decision by the govt as India has played only 15 series in last 63 years with Pakistan.
The govt, however, made it clear that India will not change its stand against Lakhvi's release, Dawood Ibrahim and other issues.
"The series will have no negative impact on the differences between the two countries and the govt have no apprehension in the same. The series should be seen as a part of social and cultural activity between India and Pakistan and it should be allowed," sources said.
However the two boards are still concerned over the security of the players and that's why UAE has been repirtedly selected as the neutral venue for the series.
"I am satisfied over the progress we made. We are in talks with Pakistan to finalise the venues for the series," Anurag Thakur said.
"However the final decision will be taken by the government only," he added.
The two cricket boards also have differences over broadcast rights . However PCB chief Shahryar has made it clear that the official broadcast rights have been given to Ten-Sports. While India have tie-up with other sports channels.
"If BCCI have any issue with the broadcast rights, they can write us a letter of which broadcaster they want," Shahryar said.
Earlier, Shahrayar who met BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya in Kolkata confirmed about the Indo-Pak series in a press conference. An MoU had also been signed between the two cricketing nations to play five series in the next eight years. The series will start in December this year with five ODIs, three tests and two T20 internationals in UAE.
India had cut all cricketing ties with Pakistan since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks; however did host Pakistan for an ODI series in 2012.
