Prior to the International Cricket Committee’s (ICC) hearing on Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) compensation claim against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), former BCCI president Anurag Thakur said India shouldn’t pay any money to PCB.

Due to cancelling back-to-back two bilateral series that have led massive losses for PCB, they took the legal action against BCCI where they have claimed around $70 million in compensation. According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) that had been agreed by both the boards in 2014, India and Pakistan had to play two bilateral series in November 2014 and December 2015.

While the hearing will start from October 1, Thakur told ANI, “India should not pay any money to PCB. For a number of years, many nations did not visit Pakistan to play matches. I think no official from India should attend ICC hearing.”

Also read: PCB chairman Ehsan Mani opens up his doors to talk with BCCI

Meanwhile, the former IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla believes both boards need to resolve this amicably without involving ICC on this. Shukla added that BCCI always wanted to play with Pakistan but the government didn’t provide the nod.

Shukla told ANI, “As far as BCCI vs Pakistan Cricket Board dispute is concerned, my own view is that both the Boards should resolve it amicably instead of lingering it in ICC. BCCI always wanted to play with Pakistan but there are certain issues and we need government nod to go to Pakistan to play matches.”

Shukla further said that they always played with Pakistan in any big tournaments, so there is no question to pay money to PCB.

Shukla added, “Wherever international matches are organised by ICC or Asian Cricket Council, we always play with Pakistan, this time we played at a neutral venue. There is no question of paying money to Pakistan Cricket Board.”

Earlier this September, BCCI announced that they have hired a Dubai-based law firm and a British lawyer to face that legal challenge.

A senior BCCI official told PTI, “The BCCI has hired Dubai-based law firm Herbert Smith Freehills along with British Lawyer QC Ian Mills to represent us at the Dispute Resolution Committee hearing. Since the case is happening in Dubai, we needed a Dubai-based law firm. Also, the ICC follows British law so, QC Ian Mills is on board. We will fight this case till finish.”