Does not matter if Indo-Pak series is not held, reiterates Shahryar Khan

Karachi: The PCB chairman Shahryar Khan once again said that it does not matter if an Indo-Pak bilateral series is held or not since it has now not happened for a number of years.

"It does not matter whether we play India or not as already no series has not taken place in so many years," Shahryar was quoted as saying by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

Shaharyar also denied that he had asked former test captain Zaheer Abbas to use his influence as the President of the ICC to speak to the Indian board and convince them for the series.

"Zaheer has has gone to India in his capacity as ICC president and not as a messenger of PCB. We have not asked for Zaheer's help for the revival of Pak-India series. He has gone to India as ICC president but he will inform us about the updates of the series on his return," he said.

The PCB chief admitted that there are 50 per cent chances of the revival of Pakistan-India cricket which is scheduled to be held in December in the UAE.

"The BCCI has said that they are ready to play a series with Pakistan but they have to get a green signal from its new government," he said.

"We are trying our level best to get an answer of whether it is a yes or no."

The PCB is still awaiting a response from the Indian cricket board on a letter Shaharyar wrote to secretary Anugrag Thakur earlier this month asking him to confirm the series.

Khan also said that the PCB was trying to invite associate teams, who have qualified for the World Twenty20 to tour Pakistan before they go to India.

"We are in talks with Holland, Scotland, Ireland, Hong Kong and Oman to tour Pakistan and I am positive they will visit here," he said.