Calcutta: Bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan are set for a major break from the past with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on the verge of being the biggest beneficiary.
At the top-most level, Pakistan have approached Sri Lanka for a prompt feedback on the "feasibility" of playing host, on their behalf, to five or six ODI and T20I matches against India.
Going by the calendar, it is the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s turn to host India. But playing at home has not been practical for years now, even though Zimbabwe did make a short visit to Pakistan this summer.
According to a very well-placed source of The Telegraph, Pakistan made contact at some point on Monday morning.
Speaking in the evening from Colombo, the very well-placed source said: "A senior official of the PCB telephoned a top member of the cricket hierarchy in Sri Lanka, seeking a quick response on the feasibility of staging three ODIs and two or three T20Is between December 15-31...
"An update would be given within a day or two. Time, obviously, is short for everybody concerned."
It seems that SLC, which is headed by former opener Sidath Wettimuny, has already shortlisted two cities. They are Colombo, which has multiple venues capable of hosting international cricket, and Pallekele.
Sri Lanka's national team would then be in New Zealand. So, there's no conflict of any kind.
The very well-placed source emphasised that the financials were not discussed, adding that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would have no problems playing in Sri Lanka.
Wettimuny and Co. need the approval of Sri Lanka's minister of sports Dayasiri Jayasekera. Surely, he'd be only too delighted to give his stamp of approval.
Owing to the power wielded by the country's sports minister, just about everything has to be endorsed by him.
It's rather different in India, except when the BCCI requires the Union government's consent to play Pakistan.
Monday's developments confirm the November 21 report in this newspaper, headlined 'India, Pak may play in Lanka or Bangladesh'.
The report specifically mentioned: "Sri Lanka appears the more likely venue, as the BPL would be on till December 15. Then, Bangladesh are to host a Test series against Zimbabwe from January 5 or thereabouts."
However, the expected state of the weather in Sri Lanka during the last fortnight of 2015 is hardly encouraging. That could be a negative factor.
While the BCCI has refused to play in the UAE (Pakistan's 'home' for years), thanks to the strong views of president Shashank Manohar, the PCB has been firm on not playing in India.
Shaharyar Khan, a former foreign secretary, is the PCB's chairman.
Giles Clarke, the England and Wales Cricket Board president, has been doing his bit to end the impasse.
Not as a senior administrator, but as the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC)'s Task Force on Pakistan, set up after the attack on Sri Lanka's team bus, in Lahore, in March 2009.
Clarke, Manohar and Shaharyar met in Dubai on Sunday evening. Manohar is also the chairman of the ICC.
Incidentally, Shaharyar's begum Minnoo and Manohar's wife Varsha found the time to catch up as well.
