The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Roger Binny is hopeful for a bilateral series between India and Pakistan after his successful two-day visit to the neighbouring country.
Binny, along with other BCCI officials including Vice President Rajeev Shukla, Director BCCI Yudhvir Singh and Secretary to Vice President Mohammad Akram, landed in Pakistan on Monday, September 4, where the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hosted a dinner ceremony for them at the Governor House Lahore
The BCCI Chief stated that the decision is not his alone but it depends on the government of both countries because of their strained relationship.
"BCCI can't say. It is a government issue, and they will have to take a call. We need to wait and see. And hopefully, it will happen because the (ODI) World Cup is coming up, Pakistan team will be in India to play," Binny told Indian media.
Binny also stated that cricket can be a medium to restore the relations between two countries.
"Cricket has always been an important medium even before. Take the 2004 tour, for example; the atmosphere that was created resulted in a great friendship and trade delegations. The shopkeepers were not even taking money from people, that was a great atmosphere."
The BCCI president also praised the way he was hosted in Pakistan.
"We had a very good meeting in Pakistan. We received very good hospitality. They took care of us very well. The main agenda was to watch cricket and to sit and discuss things with them. Overall, it was a very good trip," he added. "Pakistan treated us very well, they went out of the way to make us comfortable."
It must be noted that the last time India came to Pakistan for a bilateral series was in 2006 while their last visit to the country was in 2008 for the Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's last visit to India was in 2012-13 to play a three-match ODI series which they won.