Pakistan To Tour India

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.

Pakistan last toured India for a Test series in early 1999, drawing the two-Test series 1-1, but also winning a match at the Eden Gardens, which was played as part of the Asian Test Championship.

According to Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, final dates and venues would be decided after consulting with the Board of Control for Cricket in India however it is thought that the three Tests are likely to be played first, starting on February 25.

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 had recently revised their international programme by asking Sri Lanka to tour in October as opposed to February-March next year so that they could accommodate the Indian tour, however Pakistan's schedule still isn't perfect for the tour as they will go into the five-day games just a fortnight after completing their engagements in the VB Series in Australia.

In a separate arrangement the PCB have also agreed in principle to play India in a one-off ODI on November 13, as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the BCCI.

Posted by Richard