Shaharyar Khan is one of Pakistan's most renowned diplomats so it comes as little surprise that he is bringing to bear his considerable interpersonal skills in attempting to revive Pakistan's cricketing ties with India.
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman met his counterpart in the Indian board, and old friend, Jagmohan Dalmiya in Kolkata on Sunday in a renewed push to host a series against India this winter in the UAE. Considerable obstacles remain, however, between the PCB’s efforts and a revival of one of cricket’s most compelling rivalries.
Shaharyar was due to meet officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Delhi yesterday, on what was his second trip in recent months; he visited last year soon after Dalmiya assumed the presidency of the board.
Shaharyar and Dalmiya were board heads in 2004, when India toured Pakistan for a full series for the first time in 14 years, sparking a brief era in which the two played regularly. Shaharyar conceded, however, that nothing definitive has yet been drawn, the BCCI leaving it up to the government of India to give the go-ahead to a rivalry that has been in cold storage since the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.
Last year, the PCB and BCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding to play six series over the next eight years, including the first in December in the UAE. On paper that remains, but without government approval, it means little.
“No, nothing definitive, just declarations of intent,” Shaharyar said. “The definitive part will be when the government gives its green signal. What I discussed with Dalmiya was that we wanted these series to go ahead.
“I reminded him how much we had co-operated in the old days to get the series going after a long break and that we should do that again now that we are both at the helm of affairs. He was very positive on that and said we will say to the government we want this to happen. But until it actually happens it can be said it depends on the government of India.”
Whatever the government stance – and Shaharyar met Indian government officials as a special envoy of Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif in 2013 – PCB officials have sensed a change within the BCCI.
It may not be immediately apparent in the BCCI’s non-committal statement, which said only that “it was felt that it is desirable to recommence such cricket contact. The two boards would be in regular touch and review the situation”.
But the PCB has felt that with Dalmiya’s predecessor N Srinivisan at the helm, there could be no detente. Shaharyar was hoping to meet Anurag Thakur, the influential BCCI secretary, as well before returning to Pakistan. According to a PCB official, Thakur is receptive to the revival of ties.
Beyond politics, however, there remains the broadcaster problem. The PCB has just signed a five-year deal with Ten Sports to broadcast its home series, an agreement that includes the December series with India.
But the BCCI has been embroiled in a long-running legal dispute with the owners of Ten Sports, Zee Network, and is seen as unwilling to tour those countries where Ten Sports will be the home broadcaster.
One of the clauses in the ICC’s restructuring from last year states broadcasters in legal dispute with member boards, as the BCCI is with Zee, can be a reason to cancel a series. Given that Essel Group, which owns Zee, have also recently stated their intention to create a parallel cricket world outside that governed by the ICC, Ten Sports as broadcaster remains a considerable obstacle.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
