TNI Bureau: Much awaited India-Pakistan cricket series got a green signal from the Government of India. The BCCI has also confirmed five venues for a limited overs bilateral series in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad which is scheduled to be held on December-January.
The high voltage Indo-Pak series is inducted in the Christmas break of Idia-England series. Pakistan is scheduled to arrive in India on December 22 for a series of three ODIs and two Twenty20s.
While cricket authorities of both countries, along with India skipper MS Dhoni, had welcomed the idea of Pakistan coming over, former batting great Sunil Gavaskar has warned that India will be in the middle of a tough England series and a high-octane series against Pakistan will only drain the team further.
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It is the first bilateral series between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008. The arch-rivals have not played a series since Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007. The Indian and Pakistan cricket teams have only met in various international tournaments since 2007.
Pakistan Cricket Board, however, welcomed the decision as it will share revenue from the series and which would help him to come over the financial crisis after the 2008 terror attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team in Pakistan soil.
In fine, bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan may revive the people to people relation between these cricket crazy neighbouring countries.