DOUBT'S ON INDO-PAK SERIES IN DECEMBER

The office of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Dubai Cricket Stadium are within walking distance of each other on the city. However, Shashank Manohar, the new ICC chairman, also the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, still couldn't find the time to meet each other to discuss the possibility of an India-Pakistan series.

"The meeting did not take place simply because there was no intent," a highly placed source told TOI. Another official in the know of things said: "Mr Manohar went about his duties taking charge at the governing body on Saturday (November 21) and Mr Khan will be taking a flight to Pakistan on Sunday morning."

Before boarding the flight to UAE, Manohar had made it very clear that there was no chance of India playing in the gulf nation. His statement came at a time when Shahryar was busy raising the question: "Why can't India play in the UAE when England, Australia and all other countries have agreed to play here."

Manohar's reluctance to play in UAE, say sources in the know, stems from a deep-rooted thought that the venue is not safe for the game. The Nagpur-based lawyer's was one of the strongest voices to oppose the shifting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to UAE last year on the same grounds and he had made this known to the BCCI administration then.

"His view hasn't changed at all. So there's no question whatsoever, of India playing in UAE. In fact, had the security situation in Pakistan not plummeted (post the Lahore attacks), I don't think India would've had any problems playing in Pakistan. Haven't we done it twice in the past?" an official said.

Manohar feels UAE's reputation as a cricket-playing venue (when Sharjah would host matches), had taken a serious beating years ago and there's absolutely no reason to start believing that it is any different now. "That is why he was so much against IPL being played in UAE last year," the official added.

These developments came soon after IPL governing council chairman Rajiv Shukla said: "Pakistan needs to develop safe venues instead of agreeing to play in UAE."

Sources close to Manohar say he has no problems in India and Pakistan playing. However, he strongly feels that "it cannot happen by pushing aside serious concerns".

© cricketonline.org

written by ~ CHARITHARDHA