BCCI awaits response from government: Rajeev Shukla

According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been given the green signal by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff, but Shukla expressed that the Indian board is still waiting for the External Minister to come back from the Commonwealth Summit, and take a decision on the series.

“We have already applied with the Ministry of External Affairs. But since (External Affairs Minister) Sushma Swaraj ji is in Malta to attend the Commonwealth Summit, we are waiting for her to come back. The moment she comes back, she will decide about it," he said, as quoted by Zee News.

"The two boards (PCB and BCCI) have already taken the decision. Now it is up to the Indian Government to decide." he added.

When asked about whether this series should be entertained given the current political situation between these two neighbouring nations, Shukla said, "Sports should not be dragged into political and diplomatic controversies. We cannot decide on the series with Pakistan without the consent of the Government.”

If this series eventually materializes, then it will be the first bilateral series between India and Pakistan since the ODI series in the winter of 2013-13, which took place in India.