ICC welcomes resumption of Indo-Pak cricketing ties

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has welcomed the resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan at the the under-19 and A levels. Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, hoped that this would lead to the revival of full-fledged international cricket between the two teams.

"India and Pakistan on the cricket field is one of the world's great sporting rivalries," said Mani. "The announcement that these two powerful cricketing nations will again meet on the field, albeit at a level below full international status, is a welcome step along the path to the resumption of full cricketing ties between the countries.

"When these two teams met in the 2003 World Cup the passion that the match generated and its ability to have a positive impact on people in both nations was apparent.

"Cricket, like all sport, has the capacity to promote understanding and generate goodwill and I would urge the political leaders in both countries to allow the game of cricket to assist in building relations between these two nations rather than being used for a political purpose."

Earlier, Pakistan had requested the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to reschedule the four-nation under-19 tournament so that it won't clash with other major matches to be played in Pakistan later this year. "We welcome India's participation in the event as the first step towards resuming cricketing ties but want the event to be rescheduled from September to November this year," said Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman.

Pakistan, who have rarely been able to play home series since the attacks on the World Trade Center led to a war in Afghanistan, are slated to host Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand from August to November. "The Under-19 event will be overshadowed during this period. That's why we have asked the ACC to reschedule it."

The Indian government has refused to allow the senior side to tour Pakistan, but its decision to send the U-19s for the four-nation event indicates a thaw in relations. "With the junior-level events, we hope there are bright chances of revival of bilateral series between the two countries next year," said Zia, alluding to a rivalry that has been in cold storage since India hosted a series in 1999.