Despite the proposed India-Pakistan bilateral series in December in
serious doubt due to the current political situation, International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Dave Richardson said he was hopeful of the series taking place.
"One of the things that we have spoken about in the (ICC board) meeting is the success of the Test series like the Ashes and, hopefully, the Freedom Series between India and South Africa. This (India-Pakistan) is just another iconic series waiting to happen. Purely from a cricket point of view, we would be very happy for that series to take place," Richardson said.
There were reports that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan had threatened to boycott India in ICC events if the series was cancelled. Richardson, however, denied that threat.
"It wasn't mentioned in the meetings at all. The PCB and all other full members have signed participating agreements to partake in our events wherever they are," he said.
Asked whether the ICC will impose a fine if PCB decides not to play against India in such events, Richardson said: "Well, the agreement that they have signed is an agreement. If you breach an agreement, then there are consequences. But as far as I am concerned, it is not even coming close to it."
Richardson said he was confident that India would do a good job of hosting the World T20 scheduled in March next year.
"Over the last 10 years or so, the BCCI has held and staged a number of big cricket events. They have the ability to stage events and they have improved tremendously. We have utmost faith that they are going to put on a good tournament.
"At the moment we are in discussion with the BCCI over the schedule. Once that is concluded in the next few days, we will hold an official launch of the tournament towards the end of October. We will look to make it the biggest and the best World T20 that we have had till date," Richardson added.
With some local political parties in Maharashtra refusing to host artists from Pakistan, Richardson said they will have to keep that in mind while finalising the schedule.
"I think that is a consideration that we have to bear in mind while finalising the match schedule. The security position as far as Pakistan in Mumbai is concerned is correct," he said.
"One of the things that we have spoken about in the (ICC board) meeting is the success of the Test series like the Ashes and, hopefully, the Freedom Series between India and South Africa. This (India-Pakistan) is just another iconic series waiting to happen. Purely from a cricket point of view, we would be very happy for that series to take place," Richardson said.
There were reports that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan had threatened to boycott India in ICC events if the series was cancelled. Richardson, however, denied that threat.
"It wasn't mentioned in the meetings at all. The PCB and all other full members have signed participating agreements to partake in our events wherever they are," he said.
Asked whether the ICC will impose a fine if PCB decides not to play against India in such events, Richardson said: "Well, the agreement that they have signed is an agreement. If you breach an agreement, then there are consequences. But as far as I am concerned, it is not even coming close to it."
Richardson said he was confident that India would do a good job of hosting the World T20 scheduled in March next year.
"Over the last 10 years or so, the BCCI has held and staged a number of big cricket events. They have the ability to stage events and they have improved tremendously. We have utmost faith that they are going to put on a good tournament.
"At the moment we are in discussion with the BCCI over the schedule. Once that is concluded in the next few days, we will hold an official launch of the tournament towards the end of October. We will look to make it the biggest and the best World T20 that we have had till date," Richardson added.
With some local political parties in Maharashtra refusing to host artists from Pakistan, Richardson said they will have to keep that in mind while finalising the schedule.
"I think that is a consideration that we have to bear in mind while finalising the match schedule. The security position as far as Pakistan in Mumbai is concerned is correct," he said.
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