Calcutta: "I don't talk the language of threats and I've never spoken the language of ultimatums. You've known me for years and would be able to vouch for the same," Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, told The Telegraph here late on Wednesday.

The Bhopal-born Shaharyar is a former foreign secretary of Pakistan.

Speaking shortly after checking-in at Taj Bengal, Shaharyar added: "Not for a moment did I recently suggest that we would boycott your team in global and regional events if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) didn't honour the MoU signed with the PCB...

"Fact is I'm still hopeful that India would play Pakistan in the UAE later this year. Obviously, we'll be very disappointed if that doesn't happen...

"If the cookie crumbles that way, then the PCB would look at all options. We could look at seeking financial compensation or take up the issue with the International Cricket Council or whatever else is there to be explored...

"I didn't use the word 'boycott', for that's not my style. But, yes, we'll have to act in some manner if we're let down by the BCCI."

Shaharyar and his begum, Minnoo, are in the city for the second time in just over four months.

Thankfully, this time, the Khans didn't have a problem at immigration as they first landed in New Delhi (in the afternoon) and, then, took an evening flight to Calcutta.

The Khans last visit was in the latter half of May, when Shaharyar came to meet Jagmohan Dalmiya, the late president of the BCCI.

It was a courtesy call, meant to renew an old relationship.

This time, the Khans have come to make a condolence call on the Dalmiyas. They'll be doing so on Thursday morning.

It's a gesture to be appreciated.

However, unlike the last trip to India, Shaharyar won't be meeting any of the BCCI officials.

"I'm aware that the new president would only take office on Sunday. I've met Shashank Manohar, but don't know him as well as some of the other officials...

"Perhaps, I'll telephone Manohar and congratulate him. A one-on-one won't be on this time, but I'll probably meet him in the near future," Shaharyar said.

Going back to the revival of cricket at the bilateral level, Shaharyar made the point that the sport had often been used as a "confidence building measure."

There's been no bilateral cricket after January 2013.

"Cricket doesn't lead to the loss of anybody's territory, there's no price to pay on any account. So, why not revive bilateral ties and, then, try and move ahead on other fronts? That can't be impossible...

"The leadership must take this call. I hope the BCCI has been pushing the Indian government on this. Our Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, certainly wants Indo-Pak cricket back on track," Shaharyar maintained.

Describing acts of terrorism as "most unfortunate and deeply saddening," Shaharyar stated: "It's not for me to join in a blame game, but people should appreciate that no country has taken a bigger hit from terrorists than Pakistan...

"Recently, the home minister of Punjab province, Shuja Khanzada, who'd been helping the PCB, was himself killed. That did come as a blow...

"However, you've got to remember that the Pakistan army is pulling out all the stops in going for the terrorists...

"In the past, politicians, in particular, have sat on the fence on the issue of taking on the terrorists. But our present army chief, Raheel Sharif, is absolutely clear about what he wants to do...

"My request is that acts of terrorism in India must not be projected as acts encouraged by the Establishment in Pakistan...

"I accept that Mumbai 26/11 and other acts by terrorists could derail the process of friendship, but we are neighbours with so much in common. We've got to learn to live with each other."

Shaharyar, known to be a dove as opposed to the many hawks in Pakistan, made an impassioned plea: "Let's support each other, let's build on the confidence building measures which don't cost a Rupee."

After the high generated by the meeting in Ufa between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Sharif, came the cancellation of the one-on-one between the respective national security advisers.

Then, in New York, both Prime Ministers were staying at the Waldorf Astoria, yet didn't interact. Modi and Sharif merely waved at each other, nothing more.

"That there wasn't even a chance meeting came as a disappointment. However, I haven't lost hope for all time to come," Shaharyar signed off, finishing off tomato soup and a portion of garlic bread.

Footnote: "Very good news," is how Shaharyar reacted when it was confirmed that former India captain Sourav Ganguly would be the next president of the Cricket Association of Bengal.