India and Pakistan ready to resume contact

[bomber]

International matches between India and Pakistan are likely to resume soon, with the relations between the governments of India and Pakistan having improved drastically in the last fortnight. Sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told the Associated Press, a news agency, that Atal Behari Vajpayee, India's prime minister, had approved the resumption of cricketing ties. An official announcement was expected within the next seven days.

Pakistan are due to tour India, as per the ICC calendar, in February 2004. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are insisting that India show its good faith by first playing in Pakistan.

Tauqir Zia, chief executive of the PCB, said: "We are planning to host India in February 2004 and we have approached the International Cricket Council in this regard."

The Asia Cup, which has already been postponed twice, might also finally take place. Syed Ashraful Huq, the Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) chief executive, said: "We are hoping to host the Asia Cup in the first week of April 2004. It may even be held in Pakistan, the original venue, instead of Sri Lanka ... but it all depends on a lot of things."

Huq added: "We will also try to organise an ice-breaking match in September this year - provided India allows its team to play against Pakistan."

 

[Rangeela]

thats is some really good news ..... I know when India vs Pak matches held, mostly all the businesses shut down in countries and the entire nation is just watching cricket.

hope to see some good series by both teams in future (soon)