Government can stop us from playing World Twenty20: Pakistan cricket chief

The PCB has called on India to honour an MoU under which the arch-rivals agreed to play six series from 2015-2023 -- pending clearance from both governments -- the first of which is this year in the UAE

Pakistan cricket chief Shaharyar Khan said today that if India turn down a proposed series in December-January then it would be possible that Islamabad would prevent Pakistan from featuring in next year's World Twenty20.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has called on India to honour a Memorandum of Understanding under which the arch-rivals agreed to play six series from 2015-2023 -- pending clearance from both governments -- the first of which is this year in the United Arab Emirates.

But the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to give a final response on the series comprising of two Tests, five one-dayers and two Twenty20 internationals.
 

Talks between the two Boards failed to get going on Monday after Shiv Sena activists attacked the BCCI office in Mumbai, protesting any cricket with Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2007 after New Delhi stalled the ties in the aftermath of terrorists attacks on Mumbai in 2008, blamed on militants based across the border.

Asked if the Pakistan government would prevent their team from playing in the World Twenty20, which India hosts from March 11-April 3 next year, Khan said: "This is possible that if India close all doors then we have to decide and make a policy.

"We will have to take advice from the Pakistan government and I think the government will say don't go in the event."

Khan said that if such a situation arose then Pakistan would be ready to forfeit their matches in the World Twenty20, organised under the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Under the rules if a governmnet stops a member country from featuring in an ICC event then there are no fines.