The last time India and Pakistan played a bilateral series was in 2012 when the Men in Green toured their neighbours for a white-ball series.

New Delhi: After reports of India not travelling to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy emerged on Wednesday, a PCB source took a dig at the Indian political leadership stating the latter creates a nuisance when it comes to cricketing relations between the two nations. Pakistan is due to host the entire ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, their first ICC event since 1996.

“PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said it already that Pakistan is open to play a bilateral series with India at a neutral venue only if India agrees to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year,” the PCB source told IANS.

“There is a clear and glaring contrast between the statement of Rohit Sharma and a corresponding BCCI source-based story. It clearly shows that if it’s about cricket, the players are willing and have no problem in playing each other at home grounds. But it’s the political leadership of India that always creates nuisance and blocks the way every time,” added the source.

The bilateral cricketing relations between India and Pakistan have been stalled since 2008 since the Mumbai terror attacks. Since then BCCI has banned Pakistan cricketers in the Indian Premier Leagues and also not host or travel to their neighbours citing security issues. However, Pakistan did tour India for a white-ball series in 2012. Thereafter, India and Pakistan meet only in ICC events.

BCCI’s refusal to not travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy wouldn’t be an easy call to make, moreover after Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup 2023 that took place in India. Before that, India refused to send its team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup before the tournament was held in hybrid model in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Earlier, India captain Rohit Sharma also advocated the need for India vs Pakistan bilateral series even it is in neutral venue. “I totally believe that,” Rohit said on Club Prairie Fire podcast. The Indian captain said Pakistan are good Test team. “They’re a good team. They have got a superb bowling line-up. So it’ll be a good contest especially if you play overseas conditions. That’ll be awesome,” he said.