"I am not bothered by political statements coming from India" : Najam Sethi

[#GreenRoars]

Karachi: Hopeful of the Indo-Pak series coming through in December despite the escalation in diplomatic tensions, Pakistan Cricket Board's senior official Najam Sethi said the situation would be clear by next month.

"I am not bothered by political statements coming from India or the fuss in the media around the series. I see it happening because they are highs and lows in Indo-Pak relations all the time and the situation is still not that serious to say there will be no cricket series in December," Sethi said.

"I think the situation will be much clearer in September when the prime ministers of both countries and the other officials of the foreign ministries are likely to meet on the sidelines on the UN session in New York," he said in an interview.

Sethi, who was PCB chief when the MOU was signed between the two boards to play six series between 2015 and 2022 with four of them being hosted by Pakistan, said the document was signed in an ICC meeting and it is on record that BCCI said it will not back out.

"There are millions of dollars involved in this MOU and we stand to gain a lot financially by hosting India in December. More importantly, the Indo-Pak series is even bigger than the Ashes in cricket and we need to remain cool and not panic and get worried that the series will not be held," Sethi added.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said on the Geo Super channel on Monday night that the series will not go ahead if the political tensions do not subside.

"There are three months and the series can be held. The BCCI wants the series to happen but our stance is clear that you can't have bullets and cricket together. The existing outstanding issues between the two countries have to be resolved but it is wrong to say we don't want to play the series against Pakistan."

Seth admitted that government permission and clearance for the series was a must.

"When we were to tour Bangladesh earlier this there was anti-Pakistan sentiment there and we were advised to not tour.

But we convinced our government that our team should go and play and we did that without any incident. So it is also not necessary that all boards will do what the government does but yes you can't ignore the government."
Source: http://www.firstpost.com/sports/sit...-pak-series-in-december-says-pcb-2408310.html

 

[MenInG]

As Aamir Sohail alluded to in his blog with us, Sethi has to make sure he tries all avenues to have this series happen else his big 3 stance will look silly

 

[the Great Khan]

lol Sethi desperate for some aman ki asha. He will be in big trouble once this series is abandoned. He needs to smell the coffee..

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Sethi's pro-India campaign which he has heralded from the early days as a journalist looks like coming back to haunt him. I admire his tenacity and will to make it happen, but in the end he is going to end up stabbed in the back by the very people he so yearned for friendship. His credibility looks to be shattered.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Sethi sure Pakistan-India series to be held by all means

ISLAMABAD: Brushing aside apprehensions about Pakistan-India series, head of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) executive committee Najam Sethi said he was sure that series between arch-rivals would be held at a neutral venue by all means.

“Im saying this on the basis of my experience that the series between the two countries is sure to be held in UAE or at some other neutral venue,” he told a sports TV channel.

http://www.samaa.tv/sports/2015/08/sethi-sure-pakistan-india-series-to-be-held-by-all-means/

How true will this optimism be ?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I think he's just trying to save face. He has built his whole career on a pro-India platform, for which I applaud him, but it has backfired badly.

 

[sshakir411]

yeah, because our ears are numb from listening to the same old stuff every time. The usual list of complaints of the BCCI against PCB are ridiculously childish, no wonder they've turned their supporters in to what most people would consider cry babies

 

[Haroon786]

India is 'dragging feet' on cricket ties with Pakistan

Cricket can bring India and Pakistan closer if not for bad politics, according to a Pakistani cricket official. Pakistan Super League chairman Najam Sethi says the ball is in India's pitch during an interview to Khaleej Times.

"Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had committed to playing six series over eight years with us. Now they are dragging their feet. In fact, their government barred the Indian team from playing Pakistan. The Board is not ready to admit this and they are beating about the bush."

"We will wait and see, and we are considering legal action against them,'' he said, while not going into details.

"As far as Pakistan is concerned, we are ready to play against them anywhere - UAE, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh - except in India."

The arch rivals last played during the ICC World T20 last year.

The two teams have not competed in the Test format since Pakistan's tour of India in 2007.

Sethi believes Pakistan has always been flexible on cricket and the PSL is ready to accommodate Indian players despite the fact that the Indian Premier League has shut the doors on Pakistani players.

"We are aware that India does not allow their players to take part in foreign leagues. Our doors are open to Indian players though the BCCI has barred Indian franchises from hiring Pakistani players."

http://khaleejtimes.com/sport/cricket/india-is-dragging-feet-on-cricket-ties-with-pakistan

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

the best thing that comes out of this is that at least pcb is open to having indian players in psl. idk if any indian player will ever play in it but still this seems like a fun statement.

 

[cricketjoshila]

When did BCCI refused to admit that they have been barred by the GOI??The other day Shehryar Khan said that BCCI claimed force Majeure because of this.These guys are either totally confused or are trying to fool the people.