BCCI seeks permission from government for hosting Pakistan women’s team

The Women's World Cup will be played in New Zealand in 2021. Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies are scheduled to play in a two-and-a-half year competition, which will act as the qualifying standard. The top four teams apart from the hosts will qualify directly whereas three other teams will need to play in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2020.

ICC, as per the schedule of the qualifying event, has asked the BCCI to host the Pakistan team for at least three ODIs between July and November this year. This has put the apex governing body of India in a tricky position given the political tension between the two countries and also the fact that there has not been any men’s bilateral series for six years now. The BCCI has not given its consent yet to the ICC as it requires the government to a give green signal. 

In a letter sent to the Sports Ministry dated May 29, the BCCI GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim has explained the board’s position regarding the series and is waiting for a reply, reported TOI. As per sources, it is learnt that the matter ultimately needs to be cleared by the Ministry of External Affairs.  There is still no clarity as to what steps the ICC will take in case the proposal for the series fails to go through.

"The ICC will deal with it if BCCI is unable to host Pakistan. It will be dealt with at that point based on the facts. There's no determined time frame for BCCI to announce the schedule but they are encouraged to do it as early as possible," said a source in ICC told TOI.

BCCI were the hosts for the men’s Asia Cup held last year but it was to the UAE as it did not want to host Pakistan.  

"We will have to look at other options if the government doesn't give the permission to host the Pakistan women's team. We are waiting to hear from the government soon," said a BCCI official privy to the discussions.

With respect to the inaugural World Test Championship for 2019-2021 cycle, starting from August with India touring West Indies, the ICC has not scheduled for any series between the two rival nations as a part of the Member’s Participation Agreement (MPA).