Dalmiya: junior tours may pave way for Indo-Pak Tests

Jagmohan Dalmiya hopes that the Indian junior team's forthcoming visit to Pakistan will pave the way for a resumption of matches betweeen the two nations at senior level.

"I've been getting positive indications from the government about resumption of bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan," said Dalmiya, the President of the BCCI, after a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council. "The government is yet to give the final permission, but I think it may be round the corner."

The Indian government last week cleared the national Under-19 team's visit to Pakistan in November, where they will take part in a four-nation tournament which also features Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The government has also cleared a Pakistan second XI to participate alongside Sri Lanka in a limited-overs tri-series in India in December, while the Indian academy side will take on Pakistani opposition during their tour to Sri Lanka this month.

These junior tournaments are the first clashes between Indian and Pakistani cricketers on the sub-continent since the senior teams met in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in May 2000. The Indian government later banned bilateral cricket matches with Pakistan due to political tensions, but allowed them to meet in multi-nation events such as the World Cup.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has invited India for a Test series in March next year, although no agreement has yet been reached. India has not played a Test match in Pakistan since 1989, while Pakistan played three Tests in India in 1999-2000, despite threats of disruption from Hindu fundamentalists.