The Board of Control for Cricket in India said that India’s tour of Pakistan can not be viewed as confirmed until it is cleared by the government of India. The tour is scheduled to take place early next year. The Board cited security concerns as the only reason behind the delay. The tour was put in doubt after the Indian government denied permission to the national junior hockey team to visit Pakistan earlier this month.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi, BCCI president Shashank Manohar said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has sought security clearance from the government to go ahead with the tour and until they receive a green signal from the government nothing can be termed as confirmed. Earlier, the International Cricket Council put off the high-profile Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September due to security concerns.

India is scheduled to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match during the five-week tour from January 13 to February 19. If the tour takes place on time, it will be the fifth bilateral tournament played between the two countries since 2004, when cricket ties resumed after a 15-year gap due to political tensions between the two countries.