Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi expressed doubts about the possibility of India and Pakistan engaging in a bilateral cricket series in the future. Modi highlighted the strong political influence on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a major obstacle to such matches. He emphasized that the PCB’s politicization has hindered any progress towards resuming cricketing ties between the two nations.
Modi, in a conversation with former England captain Michael Vaughan, dismissed the idea that even a neutral venue could help revive cricketing relations between India and Pakistan. He pointed out that the core issue lies in the increasing political interference in the PCB, making the prospect of a bilateral series bleak.
The former IPL chairman reiterated his stance that the situation is unlikely to improve anytime soon, effectively ruling out the chances of a bilateral series in the near future. Modi expressed concerns about the politicization of the PCB, stating that decisions are now being influenced by political factors rather than cricketing considerations. He also raised apprehensions about player safety amidst the tense atmosphere surrounding India-Pakistan matches.
India and Pakistan have not played regular bilateral cricket series since the 2012-13 season, with matches limited to multi-nation tournaments like the ICC World Cup and the Asia Cup. Modi also criticized Bangladesh’s decision to skip the 2026 T20 World Cup over security concerns related to traveling to India, suggesting that the move was unnecessary.
