PCB welcomes BCCI invitation, hopes for "revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties"

Karachi, May 13 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has welcomed the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) invitation to compete in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament this year, saying it could lead to a "revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties."

"We feel it is a significant and positive development. We had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the participation of a Pakistan team and hope that this step could lead to a revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties," The News quoted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO, Subhan Ahmed, as saying.

The BCCI has approved a Pakistan-based Twenty20 team's participation in the tournament which features leading domestic Twenty20 teams from around the world.

Shoaib Malik, the captain of Pakistan Twenty20 champions Sialkot Stallions, also welcomed the news.

"It's great news and I am happy to hear this. We eat the same food and wear same clothes and when we play cricket, people of both countries come closer," he said.

"I think it is a small step towards reviving Indo-Pak cricket and I pray this continues at all level," he added.

The invite to the tournament, to be held in October in India, came a month after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari urged Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider reviving cricket ties, during a private visit to New Delhi. (ANI)