BCCI's CLT20 invite raises PCB's hopes

Lahore: The PCB exuded confidence that India would soon resume bilateral cricket ties between the two nations after the BCCI on Saturday allowed Pakistan to take part in the Champions League T20 competition later this year. "We have been in touch with the BCCI for the last two months over the issue of Pakistan being allowed in the Champions League," PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told PTI.

Pointing out that Pakistan and India had not played a bilateral cricket series since 2007, Ahmed said the PCB would now speed up its efforts to convince the BCCI to also restore bilateral ties. "We see this announcement by the BCCI as the first ice-beaker. We are encouraged that things will only improve from here. We have said before we are willing to play India even in India first for the sake of resuming bilateral ties," he added.

During its working committee meeting in Chennai, BCCI on Saturday announced that Pakistan would be allowed to send their national T20 champions for the CLT20. The governing board of the Champions League, which includes the South African and Australian boards, will have to ratify the BCCI recommendation at its meeting later this month.

The PCB exuded confidence that India would soon resume bilateral cricket ties between the two nations.

After the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, India had suspended all bilateral ties with Pakistan, which has resulted in no Pakistani participation in the Champions League since its inception in 2009 and also no Pakistani player being invited for the lucrative Indian Premier League.

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