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Thursday, April 21, 2011

Cricket : India says no decision on resuming cricket ties with Pakistan

New Delhi : Indian Foreign Secretary Ms Nirupama Rao says no decision has been taken on resuming cricket ties with Pakistan, ending for the moment speculation that had grown after last month's World Cup semi-final in Mohali between two countries teams.
India had suspended sporting ties with Pakistan since 2008 Mumbai terror attack, but relations have thawed since then and World Cup match was watched by Prime Ministers of both nations. At the time Ms Rao had said Indian government welcomed more sporting contact between two countries but on Thursday she clarified, via a social networking site, that "no such decision" had been taken.
"Have been asked about resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan," Ms Rao said on Twitter. "Want to clarify no such decision, although sporting contacts may be encouraged." she further added: "Sporting contacts btw (between) India and Pakistan, bar (barring) cricket, have been taking place. This can be encouraged further. Hope I am clear."
Pakistan Cricket Board said last week that it had set in motion a process with Indian Cricket Board for a bilateral series. A tentative date for series, being discussed informally was expected to be after India's series in Australia around March 2012, just before fifth season of IPL. BCCI, however, maintains it has not received any communication from the government over resuming cricketing ties with Pakistan. PPI