Pakistan ready to tour India first

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf claims to have told his Indian counterpart that Pakistan is willing to tour India in a bid to restore bilateral cricket ties the two both countries. Ashraf told the media before leaving for Dubai that he had sent a letter to BCCI President N Srinivasan in which he had urged the resumption of bilateral cricket ties. “I have said in the letter we are willing to play in India next year and the BCCI should finalise details of the tour as soon as possible,” Ashraf was quoted as saying. Pakistan is due to tour India in March-April next year under the Future Tours Program but the BCCI is yet to confirm the tour or send any details to the PCB. The bilateral cricket ties between Pakistan and India have been frozen since 2008 after the Mumbai terror attacks. Ashraf said details of the series need to be finalised soon so that Pakistan could start their preparations accordingly. “In the letter I have highlighted the importance of normalising cricket ties between both countries and the impact it will have on cricket in the region at a time when relations at the government level are also improving,” Ashraf added. He said he was also hoping to visit India soon to hold direct discussions with BCCI officials. Ashraf left for Dubai to meet ICC President Sharad Pawar and CEO Haroon Lorgat and also officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Ashraf is hoping to convince the Bangladesh Cricket board officials to undertake a tour of Pakistan next year in April as per the ICC FTP. No Test-playing nation has toured Pakistan since terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March, 2009. “Bangladesh is scheduled tour visit Pakistan next year and we want them to play the series in Pakistan,” PCB COO Subhan Ahmad said.