The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Sunday that "it expects bilateral series with India to resume" in the UAE in December but there was no confirmation from its "powerful cross-border counterpart," according to Amlan Chakraborty of REUTERS. After meeting Board of Control for Cricket in India President Jagmohan Dalmiya, PCB Chair Shaharyar Khan said that the series in the UAE "will feature three tests, five one-dayers and two Twenty20 internationals." Khan: "The security situation (in Pakistan) is improving fast but we know that right now India would not be able to come for a full tour." Hosting the world's most followed cricket team "is naturally a lucrative prospect for the PCB but there was no immediate commitment from the Indian board." BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said, "Regarding the resumption of bilateral cricket ties, it was felt that it is desirable to recommence such cricket contact" (REUTERS, 5/11). The PTI reported Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said that resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan "will help create healthy relations." Basit: "There are many intangibles, whose benefits are not seen immediately. Sporting contact will strengthen ties and will create healthy relations, make good atmosphere." Dalmiya "sounded hopeful about resumption of cricketing ties but put the ball in the government's court." He said, "We are hopeful of reviving the series. Only few things need to be sorted out and obviously without common support we cannot go forward. Without the support of the home ministry and government we can't do anything" (PTI, 5/11).
