If ICC rules in favor of PCB, then India must play Pakistan, says Najam Sethi

PCB had signed MoU with BCCI in 2014 to play bilateral series against India. Not following up on the MoU, BCCI said that MoU didn’t bind them legally and was conditional to Pakistan supporting the Big Three Governance system which has been dissolved now. BCCI also stated that they needed government clearance before they can play the bilateral series. 

After attending several meetings of the ICC Executive Board and other committees in Kolkata, PCB chief, Najam Sethi, who made his return back to the country, told the media that PCB will respect the decision of ICC, but if the decision is in favor of Pakistan in October, then India must play against them in a bilateral series. 

"We have made it clear that if the ICC's Disputes Resolution Committee rules in our favour in October, then India must play against us in the new FTP programme," he said.

Sethi revealed that they have got 123 matches in the new FTP and even if the decision does not land in their favor, they would be pleased by the new FTP. 

"Even if the result is otherwise we still have got confirmed around 123 matches in the new FTP so we have done well," he said.

In the meeting in Kolkata, ICC got the final nods from all the boards for the FTP 2019-2023 and it does not include any Indo-Pak matches. ICC revealed that its Disputes Resolution Committee would give its final verdict on the compensation claim of around $70 million by Pakistan after a four-day meet in Dubai in October.

Sethi showed confidence in his legal team and said that they have prepared the case quite well and they are expecting a win. 

"Our stance remains that the MoU signed between the two Boards in 2014 during the ICC meetings confirmed that both boards would play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023," the PCB Chairman said.