"Indian Cricket Team to Play Pakistan in Dubai, BCCI awaits Government Response"

There lies a possibility of a cricket series being played between India and Pakistan in Dubai later this year if the government gives its go-ahead to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. BCCI has written to the Home Ministry, seeking permission to play Pakistan to complete their obligations under the Future Tours & Programme (FTP) agreement which was inked in 2014. 

According to reports, BCCI has proposed a full series consisting of three Tests, five one day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals.

If all goes well, the proposed series will be the first bilateral series between India and Pakistan since 2012. The arch-rivals only face-off in multi-nation tournaments and will be at loggerheads during the ICC Champions Trophy in England in June.

As per the International Cricket Council's FTP, Pakistan were to host India in 2014 but the vehement protest by Shiv Sena derailed the scheduled talks on the issue between then BCCI president Shashank Manohar and PCB chief Shahrayar Khan.

Sena workers had barged into the BCCI office, protesting against engaging in a series against Pakistan when the neighbouring country was violating ceasefire agreement between the two countries and killing Indian soldiers by shelling across the border, primarily in Jammu and Kashmir. 

As it a routine, the boards do have to seek a nod because once the government disallows they will have to organise other teams to play. If it is not sent early then all teams will finalise their itineraries. (PCB should isolate India: Former ICC president Ehsan Mani)

Due to security concerns, Pakistan host most international matches in the UAE. No team has visited Pakistan since the March 3, 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus, which injured six players and a British coach.