Accessibility links

Breaking News
News

Cricket: Questions Remain About Pakistan’s Upcoming Cricket Tour of India


Questions and disputes about security, specific venues and television rights are holding up final plans for Pakistan's cricket team to visit India for the first time in six years.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will meet on Thursday to finalize the tour venues. The Board is hopeful it can persuade Pakistan to play a test at the controversial venue of Ahmedabad during their tour, which is to start next week.

But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed security concerns over playing in Ahmedabad, a volatile city in the western state of Gujarat, which was rocked by India's worst communal riots for a decade in 2002.

Once the dates and venues have been set, the BCCI will discuss awarding television rights for the series. Last September, the BCCI backed out of a four-year, $308 million deal with Zee Telefilms, India's largest listed media company, after it was challenged in court by rival ESPN-Star Sports. The Madras High Court is hearing a counter petition by Zee, and advised the BCCI last week not to finalize any deal for the Pakistan series until the case is heard on Thursday.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

XS
SM
MD
LG