Resumption of bilateral series with India top priority for PCB: Butt

Lahore, Jun.19 (ANI): Reviving bilateral cricket series with India would be on top of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt's agenda during the meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Colombo.

Talking to reporters before leaving for Colombo, Butt said that he would be holding a separate meeting with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials to discuss the possibility of resumption of cricket series between the two arch rivals.

"I'll be speaking to the BCCI officials to convince them to revive Pakistan-India cricket series. Cricketing ties between the two countries are very important for the game and it would be my priority during my tour to Sri Lanka to discuss the issue," The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

He said that the suspension of bilateral ties between Pakistan and India was a great loss for world cricket.

"It is unfortunate that we are not playing more often against each other because people in the subcontinent and in many parts of the world want to cricket action between the two teams. This rivalry has always been a treat for cricket fans all over the world and it must be revived," Butt added.

India had refused to tour Pakistan in March last year in the wake of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Since then India and Pakistan have played a few matches against each other at neutral venues in multi-national tournaments, but there have been no bilateral series.

The PCB has already said that it was ready to host India on any neutral venue if the BCCI does not agree to send the team to Pakistan due to security reasons.(ANI)