Indian board agrees to Karachi as venue

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan has told The Daily Times that the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has agreed, in principle, to play a Test and one-day international in Karachi against Pakistan next year. India's tour of Pakistan is scheduled for January 2006 and, on their 2004 tour there, India refused to play a five-day match in Karachi.

The PCB has yet to receive a final approval from the Indian government, but Khan remains confident. "I don't see any problem hosting India for a Test and one-day international in Karachi. We are in contact with the Indian board for the finalisation of the itinerary. Personally, I feel that this itinerary should be finalised as early as possible. But it all depends on the Indian government," Khan told The Daily Times.

A number of international teams have refused to play in Karachi, including Australia, South Africa, England and New Zealand. In 2002, a bomb exploded near the New Zealand cricket team's hotel, forcing them to abandon the tour.

More recently, England has refused to play a Test in Karachi on their tour later this year, in November. Despite assurances of the city's security by the Pakistani government, the England Cricket Board sent a security advisory team to the city to assess its viability. England subsequently decided a five-day match could not be risked, prompting former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad to call for the PCB to cancel the tour. England did, however, agree to play a one-day international.

India and Pakistan had a five-year hiatus from playing each other due to political strains between the two countries, but have resumed their fierce rivalry on the field since India's tour of Pakistan in 2004.