Pakistan cautious about BCCI offer to play in neutral venues

The cricket community in the country has reacted cautiously to reports that the Indian and English Boards were willing to play Pakistan at neutral venues with some asking the PCB not to fall in the "trap".
The reports of the BCCI and the England and Wales Cricket Board hinting to agree to play Pakistan in neutral venues came ahead of ICC' executive board meeting in Dubai on January 28 and 29 in which India, Australia and England are keen to get a working paper approved, that restructures the governance of world cricket and cedes executive decision making to them.
Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas said that the PCB should be careful while going through the offers from the Indian and English Boards.

"It is clear they want us to support this restructuring of world cricket and are offering us a lollipop. Pakistan must keep in mind its long term interests and also the interest of world cricket and other members before deciding on a clear line of action," he said.
Former PCB chief executive Arif Abbasi warned the Board not to fall into BCCI and ECB's "trap".
"I would warn the Pakistan board to not fall into this trap of India promising to play us at neutral venues or even England wanting to give us a series," he said.
He said that India, Australia and England were basically trying to become first class citizens in the ICC and make the seven other nations second class citizens.

The PCB confirmed that Giles Clarke of the ECB had sent a letter to the PCB chief Zaka Ashraf wishing to meet him on the sidelines of the ICC board meeting to discuss possible series between the two countries.