Rameez to press for resumption of India-Pakistan matches

Rameez Raja, the chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has said that he will use his visit to Mumbai next month for an International Cricket Council committee meeting to press for a restoration in ties between the two countries.

"The matter of cricket revival with India will definitely be the issue," Rameez explained. "The world is waiting for the standoff to be broken. Pakistan have been willing to play India and we believe that ties should be resumed as early as next year."

Rameez admitted that initially he was not going to travel to the meeting. "I was reluctant to attend because of matches in Pakistan, and also because normally cricket officials from Pakistan have not been issued visas to visit India for any purpose," he told the News. "But now I have changed my mind and we have sent the visa application for processing. I believe given the media interest that will surround the meeting it is the best time to get across Pakistan's point of view to Indians in India on cricket relations."

Raja added that the ICC has also hinted at the possibility of matches between Pakistan and India in the United States and Canada next year. He said that the proposal "would give a huge boost to the sport in that part of the world".