The Board of Control for Cricket in India "is optimistic about the resumption of India-Pakistan cricketing ties in a neutral venue such as the UAE, but is in no position to put a date on this happening," according to Ahad Awan of PAKISTAN TODAY. Indian Premier League Chair Ranjib Biswal said, "We have had a discussion in the working committee about a proposal from the Pakistan board to host some matches in the UAE, but nothing has been confirmed as yet." The return of Indian cricketers to the UAE for the IPL 2014, "which ended an eight-year drought, is being seen as a precursor to a possible series between the arch-rivals in the UAE." Endorsing the view, BCCI Interim President Sunil Gavaskar said, “I’m certain the success of IPL will make the BCCI look at it in a different way than in the past" (PAKISTAN TODAY, 4/29). In Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Rizvi wrote the UAE is emerging as front-runner to host the Champions League Twenty20 later this year "after impressing Indian cricket officials" with its organization of the IPL. Gavaskar: “We have been absolutely blown away by the crowds that have turned up, even for the 2:30pm games." Gavaskar "lauded the country’s authorities for their support in making the IPL a success and he hinted that the UAE could be rewarded with the Champions League" -- a tournament jointly owned by the BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa. Gavaskar: "It’s not been an easy task to move an event of the scale of the IPL in the short time we had. The authorities and the stadiums have delivered exactly what they promised" (THE NATIONAL, 4/28).
