Can't force India to play Pakistan, ICC tells PCB

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan had insisted that the PCB had suffered losses totaling an astonishing $200 million because of the cancellation of the India-Pakistan bilateral series. Khan had also explained that the only reason Pakistan had supported the 'Big Three' system in the past was due to the fact that India had signed the MoU to play six bilateral series against Pakistan during that period. While Richardson made it clear that the ICC could not force India to play a bilateral series, he was quick to add that should the two rivals meet in an ICC event, the fixture could not be changed.

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

"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."

While India has steadfastly refused to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan since 2008, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have maintained that they are getting ready to file a compensation claim with the ICC's disputes resolution committee against the BCCI for not honoring an MoU signed between the two boards in 2014. Richardson said that the ICC would like to see the matter resolved as soon as possible.

"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.

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

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

Richardson also revealed that the ICC and PCB had decided not to approach any Indian player for the ongoing Pakistan vs World XI series because it would just add extra pressure on the series.

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

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