The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to challenge the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) proposal for a two-and-a-half-month expanded window for the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Recently, BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, confirmed that they will have a two-and-a-half-month window for the IPL in the ICC's next FTP cycle starting from 2024 to 2031. The decision was taken to enable all the top international cricketers to participate in the world’s biggest T20 league.

He also revealed that the BCCI had discussions with various cricket boards and the ICC regarding the same.

Reacting to the BCCI’s proposal, the PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja, said that they will officially challenge the decision and raise the issue at the next ICC meeting. He also said Pakistan is keen on playing India.

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Ramiz Raja said during a media conference: “There has been no announcement or decision as yet on the IPL window being increased. I will give my views on this issue at the ICC conference. My point is clear: if there is any development in world cricket that means we are being short-changed, we will challenge it in a very forceful manner and put our point across strongly in the ICC.”

The PCB chief also revealed that he had a discussion with the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly regarding resuming bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan. Notably, they have not played a bilateral series since 2013 due to political issues between the two countries.

Raja revealed, “I have spoken to Ganguly on the sidelines on this and I told him that presently there are three former cricketers heading their cricket boards and if they can't make a difference who will?”

He signed off by saying, “Twice Ganguly has invited me to attend the IPL finals last year and this year, and cricketing wise it made sense to go, but then, because of the situation, we had to look at the fallout of accepting the invitations.”

(With PTI Inputs)