Pakistan to tour India in February

Pakistan will tour India to play three Tests and five one-day internationals in February 2005, just days after completing a gruelling three-month stint in Australia. According to Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, final dates and venues will be decided after consulting with the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The Daily Times reported Shaharyar, a former diplomat, as saying: "People from both the countries came together when India toured us and now people from Pakistan will go to India and a lot of friendship will develop."

Pakistan revised their international programme recently, asking Sri Lanka to tour in October as opposed to February-March next year so that they could accommodate the Indian tour. According to sources, the three Tests are likely to be played first, starting on February 25. Pakistan will go into the five-day games just a fortnight after completing their engagements in the VB Series in Australia.

The PCB has also agreed in principle to play India in a one-off one-dayer on November 13, as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the BCCI. Pakistan last toured India for a Test series in early 1999, drawing the two-Test series 1-1, but also winning a match at Eden Gardens which formed part of the Asian Test Championship.