Pakistan T20 team owner seeks BCCI approval to play against IPL franchises

New Delhi, Nov 25 (CRICKETNMORE) Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi should be allowed to play Indian Premier League (IPL) sides to promote peace, the T20 team's owner Javed Afridi urged BCCI President Anurag Thakur on Friday.

Javed Afridi met the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president here and voiced his idea, also presenting his team's jersey to Thakur, DawnNews reported.

"Such events will help promote peace between the two countries," he was quoted as saying by the Pakistani publication.

Thakur reportedly said the "tournament can be held at a neutral venue".

"We have no reservations against that idea," Javed Afridi quoted Thakur as saying.Javed Afridi also met the owners of some IPL teams and said that talks to hold such matches are underway.

"We are in touch with them to play some matches between PSL and IPL teams, but for that we will need the approval of BCCI," he added.

The PSL, Pakistan's franchise-based T20 league, began this year. It features five teams.

In the inaugural year Zalmi was skippered by West Indian Darren Sammy when they failed to reach the final, despite winning six of the 10 matches played.

Relations between the two neighbouring countries have deteriorated markedly in recent months.

The political tensions have also affected cricket with the Indian women's team not playing against Pakistan in the Women's Championship.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) took a graver view of the situation and on Wednesday ruled that due to their no-show India have forfeited each of their three matches in Round 6 of the tournament.

The ICC came to the decision following consideration of written submissions from both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the BCCI.

PCB has reportedly decided to take legal action to seek compensation from the BCCI after the ICC ruled in its favour on the issue.

BCCI has lodged a protest with the ICC for making a judgement that isn't in its interest.