India-Pakistan series likely to start on December 15

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New Delhi, Nov 26: IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla today pushed for resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan, saying the game should not be brought into political controversies.

BCCI is awaiting response from the Indian government on the fate of a much-talked-about series next month while Pakistan Cricket Board has got the clearance from their government.

"I am optimistic that the government will give the go-ahead to us. Both the parties (Boards) have agreed for Sri Lanka as a venue. The whole idea is to resume cricket between the two countries," Shukla said.

Asked about voices that oppose the resumption of cricket ties, Shukla said cricket should be kept separate from politics.

"From day 1 I have been maintaining that cricket should not be brought into political controversy. Even the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee government had given the nod in worse situation for resumption of cricket. We had sent the Indian team to Pakistan. I think, we should play Pakistan," Shukla told Times Now.

Sri Lanka has emerged as the neutral venue for the planned series which is likely to have three ODIs and two T20s, tentatively scheduled between December 15 and first week of January.

Both countries have not played Test cricket since 2007 but Pakistan toured India in the winter of 2012-13 for a short limited-over series.

PTI