- 'We are trying to convince India to play in the UAE and drop their proposal of shifting the series to India.'
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan on Friday said that former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief Giles Clarke is playing a role in trying to revive the planned India-Pakistan bilateral cricket series in December.
"We are trying to make some progress with India and we can only unveil our Plan 'B' when it is confirmed the series will not be held with India," Khan said.
Clarke was due to reach Dubai on the invitation of PCB to watch the ongoing Pakistan versus England One-Day International series and then fly to Lahore for a visit with a security expert, but apparently, he has cancelled his visit due to personal reasons.
Meanwhile, PCB boss Khan is scheduled to meet BCCI president Shashank Manohar to meet in Dubai over the weekend to further discuss the India-Pakistan series.
While Khan is already in Dubai to watch the ODI series between Pakistan and England, Manohar is scheduled to arrive in the city on Saturday on his first visit as chairman of the International Cricket Council.
Khan claimed that he is trying very hard to save the series with India, which he wants to be played in the United Arab Emirates.
"The matter is now in the hands of our Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and he will decide on the series but we are trying to convince India to play in the UAE and drop their proposal of shifting the series to India," Khan said.
The PCB has stuck to its stance of not playing its 'home' series in India since Khan first confirmed that Manohar had verbally invited him to play the December series in India and assured financial benefits.
Image: Former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief Giles Clarke.
Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
