STILL NO NEWS FROM GOVT FOR INDO-PAK SERIES

Giles Clarke, who has been playing the role of a facilitator for the resumption of Indo-Pak cricketing ties, has been told by the BCCI that it's still waiting for government approval for the proposed series against Pakistan in Sri Lanka, a media report said.

(Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Extends Deadline for India Series)

A day after publicly "giving up hopes" on the proposed Indo-Pak cricket series taking place, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan today once again extended deadline for BCCI "till tonight" to take a final call on the series. (India-Pakistan Series a 'Closed Chapter: Shahryar Khan)

playing the series with India and his daily statements on the issue, Khan said it was all for cricket.

"The PCB only wants that cricket be played between the two countries and we are making every effort in this regard," he added.

Shahryar didn't elaborate when asked what the PCB planned to do if the Indians didn't confirm the series but reiterated:

"We have taken our decision. We want to play against India. It is their decision now."

The PCB chief had said last week that had written another letter to the BCCI President but Manohar denied on Monday receiving such a letter.

When asked about this, Shahryar maintained he had sent the letter but declined to comment on Manohar's statement. Khan also said that even if the Indians confirmed the series now the PCB was willing to go ahead with it in Sri Lanka.

Talking to the media in Lahore, the PCB chief said the series was still not officially called off. (India Will Not Play With Us: PCB Chief)

"If we get a positive reply now we can do it. It will be very difficult but we will manage a series against India if they say yes," he said.

"I have asked (England and Wales Cricket Board president) Giles Clarke to bring an answer from India. He is going to call me in the evening to tell me the final reply from the Indians," he said.

Clarke is believed to be playing the role of a mediator between the Pakistan and Indian Cricket Boards and was also present at a meeting between Khan and BCCI chief Shashank Manohar in Dubai last month.

While the Indians have yet to come up with a definite yes or no to the series, Khan's deadlines also don't appear to be ending.

Reminded by the media that there was growing criticism on the PCB's insisten

The report in the 'Dawn' quoted an unnamed Pakistan Cricket Board official as saying that Clarke, a former England and Wales Cricket Board chief, has received from the BCCI a similar reply to the one that was given to the PCB. (Imran Khan Insists Stopping Cricket Not the Answer to Terrorism)

It said that Clarke "had spoken to BCCI president Shashank Manohar who had told him that the Indian government had not yet given the NOC for the series".

According to the report, the PCB had put forward two tentative dates for the series (proposed to comprise three ODIs and two T20 matches): December 15-January 4 and December 19-January 4.

The report also said that the Board will wait for a few days for a final decision on the series after PCB chief Shaharyar Khan received a call from Clarke in which he reassured that he will speak to the BCCI.

The two boards signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last year in which they agreed Pakistan will host India four times while India will host their arch-rivals twice in the next eight years.

The PCB is not officially announcing the cancellation of the series since its think-tank believes it will have an adverse effect on their next scheduled series with India in 2017, the report said.

written by ~ CHARITHARDHA

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