Ehsan Mani Reckons Resumption Of Cricket Between India And Pakistan Not Possible Until The Political Relations Improve

Ehsan Mani, the chairperson of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has said that cricketing ties between India and Pakistan will not commence unless the bilateral political relations between the two countries are resolved.

The political relations between the two Asian neighbours are at an all-time low, and Mani said that he has no intention of talking to the BCCI about the resumption of the bilateral ties, urging the BCCI to sort out their bilateral relations with Pakistan.

India and Pakistan haven’t locked horns in a Test match since the 2007 series when the Men in Green travelled to India for a full series. Post the 26/11 Mumbai attack, the bilateral relations between the two cricketing bodies were scrapped and barring the limited-overs series in India in early 2013, both sides have only featured in ICC events or Asia Cup.

“Over the years, the PCB has had a number of discussions with the BCCI regarding bilateral cricket. Whether it is T20 cricket or bilateral, all things are in the hands of the BCCI. At this moment I don’t have any intention of playing any T20 league with India. First, they have to sort out the bilateral (political) relations with us, and then we will talk,” Ehsan Mani told IANS in an exclusive interview.

“I am not talking to the BCCI about bilateral cricket. It is up to them to speak to us if they have something to say. The ICC (International Cricket Council) constitution says there should be no government interference. So, I think ICC should be talking to them [BCCI],” Mani said.

‘A lot of improvements can be done on this’- Ehsan Mani on India-Pakistan cricketing ties

Ehsan Mani also opened up about the cordial relations that the BCCI and PCB enjoyed during the 90s when the likes of Jagmohan Dalmiya and Madhavrao Scindia were at the helm of the apex cricketing body in India.

He said that he was surprised at how the relationship had deteriorated in recent times after he returned for his stint with the PCB.

“I had enough discussions with Mr Dalmiya; not just him but with Mr Sharad Pawar and going back to the time of Mr Madhavrao Scindia. We have had very, very good and open relations with the BCCI. Over the last 12 years, I find the relationship is not what it used to be. There has to be trust and openness on both sides — and honesty in dealing with each other,” he recalled.

“To find that the relationship was not what it used to be, I was surprised and disappointed when I came back (as PCB chairman in August 2018). A lot of improvements can be done on this. We could talk to anybody (in normal times), but it takes two hands to clap,” Ehsan Mani added.

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