The thaw in India-Pakistan ties has not only affected the people on both sides of the border but has put a question mark on the fate of the much sought after cricketing ties. Besides being the largest cash collector for International Cricket Council the matches played between the two always have generated lot of enthusiasm and controversy in the sub-continent but kept the games tempo going strong. Now with uncertainty looming large the newly-appointed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaheryar Khan has sought Sri Lanka’s help to host international cricket again in the strife-torn country. Pakistan is following a gradual and step-by-step approach to open up and revive international cricket in the country. In this regard, PCB chairman has invited Sri Lanka’s women cricket team, A team and under-19 teams to visit Pakistan. The International Cricket Council has confirmed that India and Pakistan are set to play a bilateral series in December 2015. This will be the first of six series scheduled between the two countries during the eight-year future tours programme (FTP) cycle from 2015 to 2023. According to the provisional FTP cycle, India and Pakistan are scheduled to play 12 Tests, 30 ODIs and 11 Twenty20s spread over six series. The first, of these likely to be a home series for Pakistan, could be played in the United Arab Emirates and is expected to comprise two Tests, five ODIs and two T20s. Even though the BCCI has agreed to host Pakistan twice during the period, but due to the sensitive political relationship between the neighbouring countries, the Indian board has added a clause in the MoU that all the six series will be played “subject to government clearance”. The last bilateral series between the two countries was played in December 2012 and January 2013 when Pakistan toured India for three ODIs and two T20s. Bilateral cricketing ties between the two countries were snapped after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 until the series in 2012-13, although India and Pakistan have played each other in the World Cup, Champions Trophy, Asia Cup and the World T20.
