London, June 19: Criticising the Indian government for banning its team from playing in bilateral cricket series against Pakistan, outgoing International Cricket Council chief Malcolm Gray has said whatever the "political arguments", the decision is "hurting immeasurably" the game.
"While the BCCI has decided to pursue this goal (of resumption of bilateral series) on its own, the ICC wishes to work with it and the Indian government to try and identify a way in which this impasse can be broken", Gray said in the ICC annual report here.
With New Delhi allowing its national team to play against Pakistan only in multi-national tournaments, Gray said India's reluctance in playing bilateral series against their arch-rivals was harming the game immensely. "Whatever the political arguments, this decision is hurting immeasurably the game of cricket", he said.
The two sides met each other for the last time in a bilateral series in 2001 when Pakistan toured India for a two-match test series and one match of the Asian Test championship.

Their recent meeting came during the world cup in South Africa earlier this year where India beat Pakistan by six wickets in a league match in Centurion.

Bureau Report