Ganguly opens up on resumption of Indo-Pak bilateral cricket ties

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is set to take charge as Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s next president on October 23, has stated that resumption of Indo-Pak bilateral cricket ties will only be possible if given the nod by the Indian government.

While talking at a media briefing in Kolkata on Tuesday, the Ganguly said that the Prime Ministers of both neighbouring countries, Narendra Modi and Imran Khan, will have a major say, regarding progress, on this matter

“You have to ask that question to Modi ji and the Pakistan Prime Minister,” said Ganguly. “Of course we have [to take permission], because international exposure [tours] is all through governments. So we don’t have an answer to that question.”

Earlier, BCCI Committee of Administrators (CoA) Chairman Vinod Rai had said that India will be willing to take on Pakistan at a neutral venue.

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While speaking to Indian Express, the CoA chief said that he is not in favour of isolating Pakistan in the cricketing world.

“On playing Pakistan, I think there is a government policy that you can play on neutral territory and not on each other’s,” said Rai. “We are very clear in our minds that on neutral territory we will play any country.”

The last time India and Pakistan played a bilateral series was back in 2012, when the former hosted the Men in Green for a limited-overs series — which had two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One-day International (ODIs).