India to compete in Asia Cup

The Indian government has allowed its cricket team to participate in the next Asia Cup to be held either in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh in May this year.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lt. Gen.Tauqir Zia said on Thursday that the board would decide about its participation in the Asia Cup after obtaining government clearance.

The chairman said that the PCB had changed its policy and would now get the government's permission before playing in any tournament, also being competed by India.

Tauqir remarked that efforts were still on to hold a three-nation series in May involving England and Zimbabwe if India failed to tour Pakistan in April as per the schedule of the ICC's calender of activities.

He added that Pakistan would also play in a three-nation tournament in Sri Lanka in May. The third team is New Zealand.

He specified that Sri Lanka had cancelled its programme to host Pakistan for a three test match series this year