India-Pak cricket ties to resume in 2010: Butt

Lahore, Nov.5 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Ijaz Butt, has said that his meeting with Indian counterparts was held in a positive atmosphere and expressed hope that cricketing ties between both countries would resume in 2010.

Interacting with media persons soon after arriving at Lahore from New Delhi following an eight-day India visit, Butt said he is optimistic about a bilateral India-Pakistan series at a neutral venue next year.

“God willing 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,” The News quoted Butt, as saying.

Butt said the series may be held in the United States, but pointed out that there is a lack of cricket infrastructure in the country.

“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 said.

Butt said the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also shown interest in organising matches between the two arch-rivals in the US to promote the sport there.

Butt said during his meeting with BCCI officials, he also urged them to let Pakistani cricketers participate in the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) next season.

The BCCI had invited a number of Pakistani players for the IPL’s inaugural edition in 2008, however, following the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the relationship between both the countries soured which also affected cricketing ties.

--ANI