India, Pak to resume cricketing ties by 2010, says Butt

PCB chief Ejaz Butt has expressed hope of resuming bilateral cricketing ties between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at a neutral venue, which would be in the United States, by next year. ''A series between Pakistan and India will be held at a neutral venue next year as my meetings with the Indian cricket officials as well as government officials will bring good results,'' Butt told mediapersons after arriving here from New Delhi following an eight-day visit to India.

He also hinted that the United States will be the place which would host the much awaited bilateral series but pointed out that there is a lack of cricket infrastructure in the country.

Butt informed that International Cricket Council (ICC) is keen to organise the Indo-Pak series in the US to promote the game in North America.

''The United States is a good place (for the series). But since there is just one stadium in Florida where only one One-day International or two Twenty20 matches could be held, it is not suitable for a high-profile series,'' he stated.

Butt visited India to convince the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and government officials to revive cricketing ties between the two countries, which were snapped following the Mumbai terror attacks last year. India refused to tour Pakistan for their scheduled Test and one-day series against Pakistan early this year and have also rejected suggestions to play their arch-rivals at a neutral venue following the strained relations between both the countries.

However, the BCCI's resposnse to Butt's visit was unenthusiastic as the Indian board has asserted that that at the moment the Indian calendar was crammed but they hoped that talks with the PCB on holding bilateral contests would resume ''six or seven months later.'' India, who are currently involved in a seven-match one-day series against Australia, will play Sri Lanka in a home series that has three Tests, five one-dayers and two T20s. India will then take on South Africa followed by the third season of the lucrative Indian Premier League and the World Twenty20 in the West Indies.

-- (UNI) -- 05SPD10.xml

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