The BCCI brushed aside the noises in Pakistan and reminded its cricket board that it was bound by an agreement to play 15 matches at off-shore venues.
MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Friday brushed aside the noises in Pakistan against off-shore matches and reminded its cricket board that it was bound by an agreement to play 15 matches at off-shore venues.
Reacting to a comment by PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and reports in the Pakistan media that India was promoting Abu Dhabi ahead of Sharjah, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said the Pakistan Cricket Board had committed itself on paper to play 15 matches at off-shore venues.
“I don’t know on what context and what exactly Shaharyar has said. But I do surely know that the PCB has a contractual agreement with us. They cannot back out,” the Board secretary told DNA.
The PCB chief was quoted in the Pakistan media as saying that they will be “very careful and selective on the number of matches we play against India, especially at off-shore venues.”
But Shah said the BCCI was not worried about such remarks. “They even have entrusted us the job to market the matches. Where else will they get so much money? It is not just the BCCI, the PCB too is making money,” the Board secretary observed.
Shah also admitted that the BCCI was active behind the conduct of the DLF Cup matches in Abu Dhabi but said it was only to help the new entrants.
“We’ve extended our expertise and experience. What is wrong in this? The Abu Dhabi Cricket Council doesn’t have the required experience to hold such big matches.”
Shah, however, dismissed reports of a proposed tri-series at the desert venue, with Pakistan being one of the teams. “We don’t know from where such reports came. We’ve not given our consent to any such tournament.”
Meanwhile, reports in the Pakistan media said the BCCI was trying to turn Abu Dhabi into an India-dominated venue ahead of Sharjah and that was the reason why the Indians overlooked the organisational blunders when even its president Sharad Pawar was ill-treated by the securitymen.
Shah brushed aside the issue. “We cannot play in Sharjah because of the Government ban.”
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