India must reward Pakistan for supporting ‘Big Three’ at ICC: PCB

Karachi: PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan feels India must fulfill its promise of ‘rewarding’ Pakistan for its support for the ‘Big Three’ governance system introduced in the International Cricket Council (ICC) last year.

Khan told reporters last night at a function here that Pakistan had its own reasons for supporting the ‘Big Three’ governance system but one of them was that it would eventually lead to restoration of bilateral ties with India.

“It is true that we agreed to the ‘Big Three’ system after the Indian cricket board promised us it would renew cricketing ties with us and they eventually also signed the MOU with us to play six series between 2015 and 2023,” the PCB chief said.

Asked if the MOU was a sort of reward for supporting the ‘Big Three’, Khan admitted one could put it that way.

“We want the BCCI to honor its commitment made to us through the MOU and I am still optimistic the series could happen eventually,” he said.

Under the MOU the first series between the two countries is scheduled in December this year and Pakistan as the hosts plan to have the two tests, five ODIs and a T20 match at venues in the UAE.

So far the BCCI has not confirmed the series insisting they require government clearance to do this.

To another question, Shaharyar Khan said he would not feel betrayed if India didn’t honor its commitment laid out in the MOU.

“Restoration of bilateral cricket ties with India was one of the main reasons for signing the ‘Big Three’ document but we had our other compulsions as well to support the ‘Big Three’ governance system.”

The PCB has already sent a letter to the BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur this week asking him to confirm the series as soon as possible as time is running out to prepare for the matches.

Under the ‘Big Three’ system of governance the control of world cricket was effectively handed over to India, England and Australia.

India has avoided playing Pakistan in a full bilateral series since 2007, the last time the two countries played a Test match.