India and Pakistan are set to resume bilateral cricket ties after a five-year gap with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly deciding to invite the Pakistani team for a three-match one-day international (ODI) and two T20 matches in December 2012.
The BCCI has decided at the Working Committee meeting on Monday to invite the Pakistan cricket team for a bilateral series. It is also reported that three ODIs will be played at Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, whereas the two T20 matches to be played at Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
"It was decided to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan by inviting the Pakistan cricket team for a short series in December 2012-January 2013," the BCCI said in a statement following a working committee meeting in New Delhi.
India severed cricket ties with Pakistan following 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 164 people. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made several attempts to convince the BCCI to resume cricket between the two neighbours but failed.
The bilateral series in November 2007 was the last time India and Pakistan played against each other. India had won the series 3-2.
It seems PCB chief Zaka Ashraf's recent visit to India and the meetings of the officials from both the cricket boards at the ICC and Asian Cricket Council meetings nailed the decision to resume cricketing ties.
However, Maharashtra Congress is reportedly not happy with the decision of the BCCI to resume cricket with its arch-rival Pakistan. NDTV reported that the state Congress party has asked the BCCI to reconsider its decision.
"India, Pak to play cricket? As a Mumbaikar, what's the need of playing with Pak," NDTV quoted former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar as saying.
