PCB wait for India tour itinerary

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board is still awaiting the tour itinerary from its Indian counterpart for the much-anticipated bilateral series between the two countries later this year.

PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf told reporters that the BCCI was expected to send the final schedule for the series which is to be played in two months' time in India.

The BCCI has said that Pakistan will play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches on the short tour that begins in the last week of December and ends in the first week of the new year.

It is the first bilateral series between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.

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 Pakistani cricket teams have only met in international tournaments since 2007.

"I had enquired from the BCCI officials during the recent ICC meeting in Colombo about the final schedule and they said they would send it soon. So we are also awaiting it. But obviously they will announce it as it is their home series," Ashraf said. He said relations with the BCCI had been good in recent times and both boards have realised the importance of having regular bilateral cricket matches.

"The positive thing is after such a long time a bilateral series has been okayed and obviously the schedule will be announced after proper clearances," he added.

The PCB had requested the BCCI to include Mohali as one of the venues for the matches to allow more Pakistanis to visit India for the matches but their request was politely turned down by the Indians.

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