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ICC can't force India and Pakistan to play bilateral cricket: Richardson

ICC CEO Dave Richardson says the chances of India and Pakistan resuming their bilateral ties are remote

By Unnikrishnan
ICC CEO Dave Richarson

Karachi: ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson said the sport's governing body cannot force India to play bilateral matches with Pakistan.

Richardson also dispelled the impression that the ICC had a bigger leaning towards India compared to Pakistan.

"If India is not ready to play with Pakistan, we can't force them to do so," he said.

He said the ICC wanted good relations among all its member nations and discouraged member countries from being involved in legal battles with each other.

"You have to understand that bilateral series is always held with the agreement of two cricket boards and though we would like to see India and Pakistan play bilateral matches they have political tensions and any cricket is dependent on their existing relations," Richardson said.

He, however, insisted that if India and Pakistan were in the same group in any ICC event they would have to play against each other.

While India has steadfastly refused to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan since 2008, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has maintained it is getting ready to file a compensation claim with the ICC's disputes resolution committee against the BCCI for not honouring an MoU signed between the two boards in 2014.

The ICC CEO said the world body remained neutral when it came to Indo-Pak cricket relations.

"We are aware that Pakistan has even offered BCCI the option of playing at neutral venues and they are going to the ICC disputes resolution committee with their claim but we remain neutral," Richardson said.

Richardson said in the existing situation it didn't appear for India and Pakistan to resume bilateral ties soon.

"India gives the ICC a lot of business but in our eyes all member nations are equal," he added.

PCB chief Najam Sethi said they had asked the ICC to nominate three representatives of other boards to look into the Pakistan's claim against India.

"We would like to see a logical and proper end to our compensation claim which is being finalised by our lawyers," he said.

Richardson also spoke about the absence of Indian players in the World XI.

"If an Indian player had been in the team this tour would have got a lot more attention but it would have meant more pressure and security requirements for everyone," he said.

Story first published: Friday, September 15, 2017, 9:05 [IST]
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