Dalmiya confirms Indian tour of Pakistan

Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the BCCI, has confirmed that the Indian team will visit Pakistan in March next year following their return from the tour of Australia in mid-February. This will be the Indian team's first fully fledged tour of Pakistan in nearly 15 years.

After returning from an important meeting of the ICC in Barbados, Dalmiya said that he had begun discussions with Lt-Gen. Tauqir Zia, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and that the "details of itineraries of India's tour to Pakistan as well as the Asia Cup are being worked out". He also said that the series would be followed by the Asia Cup tournament in Pakistan, where both teams would participate along with four others.

Rameez Raja, the chief executive of the PCB, termed this decision as a "very positive step", and added, "The PCB has proposed to India to play three Test matches and seven one-day internationals to the BCCI. The tentative programme has already been posted to the BCCI two days ago."

Sourav Ganguly, speaking in Bangalore, was excited at the prospect of touring Pakistan and said that it was exciting for both teams. "We are more than willing to go", he said.

Dalmiya also added that the ICC Development International Ltd (IDI), the business arm of the ICC, has been informed about the Indian government's clearance of bilateral tours between India and Pakistan.

The Indian government had earlier allowed the country's participation in junior tournaments featuring Pakistan and the Indian Under-19 team which has just returned from Pakistan after a triumphant campaign. Next month the Pakistan A team will be visiting India to take part in a tournament being played between the A teams of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.