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NEWS UPDATE : Asian Cricket Third Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI abandoned due to rain COLOMBO: The third One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The umpires made this decision after consulting ... Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke SYDNEY: Australia's limited-overs tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make them the top nation in all three forms of the game, captain Michael Clarke said ... Bopara glad to be back for England SOUTHAMPTON, England: Ravi Bopara is eager to make up for lost times as he tries to revive his ... South Africa name unchanged squad for England series JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the three-Test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on ...


Monday, December 12, 2011

Pakistan cricket chief set for India trip next month

DUBAI : Pakistan cricket chief Zakar Ashraf said on Friday he hoped to visit India next month to further efforts to revive bilateral ties stalled since terrorists attacks on Mumbai three years ago."I have high hopes of reviving ties with India," Ashraf said on the sidelines of third day-night match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Friday. "I have received a positive reply from India today and hope to tour them next month."Ashraf's comments came on the day when blind teams from both the countries started a low profile series in Pakistan, the first visit by any cricket team to Pakistan in three years.India stalled all bilateral ties with their South Asian neighbours in the wake of terrorist attacks on their commercial hub Mumbai, which New Delhi blamed on militants based in Pakistan.But there has been a recent thaw, with Pakistan declaring India "the most favoured nation" and both prime ministers vowing to improve ties during their meeting at the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) conference earlier this month.Ashraf expressed hope he would meet with Narayan Srinivasan, his counterpart in Board of Control for Cricket in India."I have high hopes of a positive meeting and when we can have sporting events like kabbadi and blind cricket with India, why not top level cricket which is already regarded as the most sought after series in the game," said Ashraf, who took over last month.Ashraf said the International Cricket Council (ICC) has already termed Indo-Pak matches as an "iconic series" and everyone is waiting for both the nations to play.As per the ICC Future Tours Programme, Pakistan and India are slated to play in March next year but India's hectic schedule is a big hurdle in the series.But Ashraf hoped a slot will be found."When there is a will, there is a way and we hope the bilateral ties to resume sooner than later," said Ashraf.Pakistan last toured India in 2007, while their rivals have not toured them since featuring in the Asia Cup in 2008