Miandad urges PCB to use ICL card to convince BCCI

Lahore, Nov 26 (UNI) Former batsman Javed Miandad has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to use the ICL card to ensure that the BCCI goes ahead with the home series early next year.

''Pakistan is facing immense public pressure to pardon their players who have defected to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL),'' Miandad, the newly appointed PCB Director General has said.

The Indians are showing reluctance about touring Pakistan because of security apprehensions. However, the ICL card is the only pressure tool that the PCB can use to save its all-important home series against India from getting cancelled, postponed or moved to other venues.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt is expected to use it well when he visits India early next month to convince the authorities there to send their team to the country.

BCCI senior officials have said, ''Their hands are tied and it would be their government's call over whether the cricket team should tour Pakistan.'' However, Miandad's comments has reminded the BCCI about its ICL problem. His comments might also carry some hidden message to the BCCI that it is time India repaid Pakistan over their unmatched support over the ICL issue and make it sure that M S Dhoni and his brigade visit Pakistan for what is a much-awaited series.

Pakistan has not played a single Test match so far this year and the PCB is desparate to ensure that the series goes ahead.

The Indian team is scheduled to play three Tests and five ODIs when they visit Pakistan next January.

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