ICC welcomes Indian decision on cricketing ties with Pakistan

Ehsan Mani, president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), welcomed the Indian government's decision to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan - at the junior levels, for the moment.

The Indian government recently approved the BCCI's proposal to send a team to the triangular series involving the academy teams of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It also cleared a quadrangular under-19 tournament to be played among the four Asian Test-playing nations in Pakistan. A tri-series involving the A teams of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka has also been cleared.

"The cricketing world welcomes this decision and I would hope that it will lead to the resumption of full cricketing ties between these two great cricketing nations," said Mani. "The match between these teams at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 was one of the most exciting games of the tournament played with a lot of goodwill between the teams and clearly demonstrated the ability of cricket to bring the people of these two countries together."

Mani added: "Sport has the capacity to build understanding between people and I would hope that the Indian government allows cricket to play a role in promoting goodwill between India and Pakistan."