NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India yesterday announced the dates and venues for a short tour by Pakistan, which will revive bilateral ties between the two countries.
India will host two Twenty20 games and three one-day internationals in December-January in what will be their first series since Pakistan toured India in November 2007. Cricket ties between the two neighboring rivals were broken after a terror attack in Mumbai in 2008 for which India blames Pakistan.
However, the teams have played each other in ICC tournaments, including in the World Cup semifinals at Mohali last year.
Bangalore and Ahmedabad will host the Twenty20 games while Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi will host the one-day internationals.
The India-Pakistan series will be held when the visiting England side takes a break for Christmas from its ongoing tour of India. England plays four tests and two Twenty20 games in November-December. It returns to play five one-day internationals in January.
Pakistan is scheduled to reach India on Dec. 22 and will leave on Jan. 7.
Abandoned
In Pallekele, Sri Lanka, the opening one-day international between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was called off without a ball being bowled due to rain in Pallekele yesterday.
Colombo will host the next two one-dayers of the five-match series on November 4 and 6 and Hambantota the last two on Nov.10 and 12.
The one-off Twenty20 international between the teams was also abandoned due to rain in Pallekele on Tuesday.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka will also play two Tests after the one-day series.
The itinerary:
Dec. 25, first Twenty20 international, Bangalore.
Dec. 27, second Twenty20 international, Ahmedabad.
Dec. 30, first one-day international, Chennai.
Jan. 3, second one-day international, Kolkata.
Jan. 6, third one-day international, New Delhi.
Pakistan kicks off India tour on Dec. 25
