'No more begging for negotiations': PCB chief sends strong 'equal footing' message to BCCI

Pakistan sends strong 'equal footing' message to BCCI (AFP Photo)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has consistently rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) repeated attempts to persuade India to resume bilateral cricket. India vs Pakistan cricket is still the game's best-selling product, but the two countries only play each other in multi-nation competitions. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has rejected the idea of "begging" India for bilateral cricket once more as the countdown to another India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match gets underway.

In addition to bilateral cricket, hosting rights for multi-nation competitions have been a source of contention between India and Pakistan. The Asia Cup this year is being hosted in the United Arab Emirates, a neutral location, even though India has the hosting rights. All of this occurred after India earlier this year declined to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy.

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All Indo-Pak cricket conversations with the BCCI would take place on "equal footing" according to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). "I think we are very clear that whenever talks are held will be on an equal footing with India and there will be no more begging for negotiations. That time has passed and whatever will happen will be on the basis of equality," Naqvi said during a press conference in Lahore, just days before the start of the Asia Cup.

The Indian government previously declared that although bilateral cricket with Pakistan will not be played in the near future, the two sides might still compete against one another in multi-nation tournaments. On September 14, India and Pakistan will play each other in the Asia Cup group stage. The two teams can also face off against one another in the tournament's later stages.