Kashmir bids for international fixtures

The troubled North Indian state of Kashmir, at the heart of innumerable border disputes with neighbouring Pakistan, may soon be playing host to international cricket, if the region's chief minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, has his way.

"I will take up with the BCCI president, Jagmohan Dalmiya, the state's demand to allot at least one match to Kashmir," said Sayeed in a prepared statement, which comes in the aftermath of the BCCI's decision to award Kashmir two matches in this year's Ranji Trophy. Jammu & Kashmir will take on Orissa and Himachal Pradesh at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar later this year.

Dalmiya, who gave a positive response to a similar request last year, was warm to the idea. "The state government has told me the time is ripe to bring back big cricket to the valley," he told AFP. "We may decide to host a Test match or one-day international there in the near future, but all factors will be taken into account before that happens."