There Are Geo-political Issues: Chairman Greg Barclay Rues ICC's Limitation Over India-Pakistan Bilateral Ties

Newly-appointed ICC chairman Greg Barclay has admitted that there is not much the governing body of the game could do to for the resumption of bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan. At the same time, he has promised to do his best to get the two countries on the same page with regards to cricketing matters.

With Pakistan government doing very little to counter terrorism in the region, the Indian government had made it clear that it would not keep any relation with them until their actions that hurt the interest of the country stop. The bilateral relation between the two neighbours is currently at an all-time low.

The arch-rivals have not played a full bilateral Test series since 2007 when Pakistan visited India for three Tests and five One-Day Internationals. They played a short series of three ODIs and two T20s in India in December 2012, but otherwise, both have faced each other only in the ICC organised events or the Asia Cup.

India and Pakistan last locked horns in the 2019 World Cup when the Men in Blue thrashed the Men in Green. Going by the current scenario, it is highly unlikely that India would even show interest in having a dialogue with Pakistan over the bilateral ties let alone playing a series.

Greg Barclays on India-Pakistan ties:

While the cricketing world is definitely missing one of the most fiercest rivalries in the game, Greg Barclays has conceded that there is not much the ICC could do. He said that some of the things are beyond cricket. But the ICC will be looking to do its best to ensure cricketing relations continue between the two countries.

“I would love nothing more than for India and Pakistan to be able to continue cricketing relations as they were previously. I am also enough of a realist to understand that there are geo-political issues at play here.

“I think all we can do at the ICC is to continue to help and support in any way that we can to bring about outcomes that would see India and Pakistan in a position where they can play cricket regularly against each other and in their home territories.

“Beyond that, I do not think I have the mandate or ability to influence the outcomes more than that. That is really being done at a level way beyond where we would be operating,” Greg Barclay said.

“Rest assured that from the cricketing point of view, we would love to get those countries back together again on a regular basis. The ICC will do whatever it can to help facilitate and support an outcome that might see that happen,” he added.

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