14 Mar 2011

International cricket to return to Pakistan

6:06 am on 14 March 2011

A provincial cricket team, possibly from the Indian state of Punjab, will tour Pakistan later this year in a move which could see international cricket resume in the troubled country.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt says the touring team will play two one-dayers and two Twenty20 matches, however, he did not give other details including dates of the visit.

Pakistan has not hosted any international cricket since the attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009, which killed eight policemen and injured seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach.

The attack forced the International Cricket Council (ICC) to strip Pakistan of its share of World Cup 2011 matches and forced the national team to play their home series at neutral venues.