Pak likely to tour India for one-off match this year: PCB chief

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has said there is a great possibility of Pakistan touring India for a one-off match this year in a bid to normalise bilateral cricketing ties between the two countries.

"It is not possible to have a full series this year but we definitely want things to move forward so we will play a one-off game in India this year. In this connection we have had successful talks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials. I feel even one match would be enough to convey the message that we have revived and normalised bilateral cricket ties," the Daily Times quoted Ashraf, as saying.

"Hopefully within this month we could be in a position to announce the date for a one-off bilateral match that Pakistan will go and play in India," he added.

Ashraf, who returned to Pakistan after a week-long visit to India, said he wanted to develop a good relationship with the BCCI so that, in future, instead of playing their matches at neutral venues, Pakistan could tour India.

"We want to establish exemplary relations with the Indian board," Ashraf said.

The BCCI had also invited Ashraf to visit India for the IPL final.

Ashraf said the date of the proposed match is likely to be finalised during the ICC meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

The PCB has been striving to convince the BCCI to restore bilateral cricket ing ties that were discontinued after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. Recently, the BCCI gave indications of breaking the deadlock when it announced that Pakistan's national Twenty20 champions, Sialkot Stallions, would be invited to play in this year's Champions League Twenty20 tournament.