'Immediate ties with Pakistan not possible' - Pawar

Sharad Pawar, the ICC president, has ruled out bilateral series between India and Pakistan in the near future, saying the restoration of cricketing ties between the countries was a diplomatic issue that had to be addressed by the two governments.

"Immediate ties between both countries is not possible," Pawar told PTI. "It is not in the hands of the cricket boards. It is a diplomatic issue. This is a decision taken by the Indian government."

Diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan worsened in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008. The BCCI called off a scheduled tour of Pakistan in early 2009, following a directive from the government. The two countries have only played two ODIs since - in the Champions Trophy in 2009 and the Asia Cup this year. The relationship between the two countries' board was also strained when Pakistan was stripped of its rights to host the 2011 World Cup after the Lahore attacks, and the World Cup secretariat was moved to Mumbai.

There has been steady speculation in Pakistan since the ICC meeting in Singapore of a potential Pakistan-India series, on neutral turf sometime next year. The chatter is linked with Pakistan's backing of other Asian and African countries, as well as the West Indies, in the movement to reject John Howard's nomination as ICC vice-president but PCB officials have not commented on the matter.

On Wednesday in Lahore, Ijaz Butt, chairman of the PCB, didn't confirm or deny a query on the possibility of a resumption, arguing that bilateral talks between any boards on future commitments should remain private until further development. Butt has, in the past, been open about wanting to see the rivalry resume sooner rather than later though he has also acknowledged that it is tied in with political realities.