India tour on schedule - PCB

Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president, has assured Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan board chairman, that India will go ahead with their tour of Pakistan in January next year, the PCB said. Pakistan's status as an international venue has been affected of late by security issues which led to the postponement of the Champions Trophy in September.

According to the PCB, Manohar informed Butt that he had written to the Indian government for security clearance and expected a reply in 10 to 12 days. "The tour will be finalised only when we get the clearance from the government," Manohar said. "Nothing can be confirmed before that."

The Indian board's endorsement has come as a huge boost to the PCB after the security problems in the country also forced the postponement of Australia's tour earlier this year.

It will also help the Pakistan board in their bid to stage the Champions Trophy, which has been rescheduled to September next year. The ICC said Pakistan's status as the venue for the tournament depended on a security assessment that will be conducted during India's tour of three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 from January 13 to February 19.

Last week, the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council offered to host the series if concerns over security persisted in Pakistan. Saleem Altaf, the PCB CEO, had said a neutral venue would be a worst-case scenario and that security arrangements for India's visit were already underway in Pakistan.

Pakistan last played a Test in India in December 2007 and the last international series they hosted was the Asia Cup in July this year.