Butt hints at resumption of Pak-India cricket series

Cricket will once again provide its diplomatic healing touch to India-Pakistan ties with both governments giving their go-ahead for a bilateral series at a neutral venue.Ijaz Butt, the president of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), visited India last week and a final consent for the series was given in New Delhi. Butt said, I can confirm that a go-ahead has been given for India and Pakistan to resume their cricketing ties. The only issue is now to wait for an appropriate window.BCCI officials, however, refused comment. The decision to resume play comes soon after Pakistans external affairs minister Hina Rabbani Khars recent visit to India, where she discussed the possibility of cricket once again acting as a catalyst for lasting peace. However, in spite of the go-ahead, it is unlikely that the PCB and the BCCI will find a vacant slot in the international calendar this year.Dates are a concern, at least for this year but if thats a problem, the series will be played in 2012 as early as possible, says an official.Further, India and Pakistan will not play in Abu Dhabi as was the case in 2007 when the two teams faced each other in the Gulf nation for two one-day matches. Instead, this time around, England has been shortlisted as the neutral venue for a full-fledged series and a go-ahead from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected soon.