Prince Charles invites India

London, May 18 (UNI) Prince Charles has invited arch rivals India and Pakistan to play a one-day international charity match in Glasgow on July three to celebrate 60 years of independence from Britain.

The match, named the Friendship Cup, aims to raise more than five million dollars (2.5 million pounds) for charities in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Britain.

Charles, the heir to the throne, came up with the idea of the match.

The match to be held at the Citylets Titwood in Glasgow, will organised by the British Asian Trust, a new subsidiary of the Prince's Charities Foundation.

The match was confirmed by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and Cricket Scotland.

The two sides last met in a two-match series in Abu Dhabi 13 months ago, which ended tied 1-1.

The match will also foster on-going relations between the UK and South Asia, according to information in Prince's Charities Foundation website.

Lalit Modi, Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said, ''We are very pleased to confirm that the Indian cricket team will be playing this one day international against Pakistan under the banner of 'The Friendship Cup' benefiting The Prince's Charities.'' ''This will be an amazing occasion as both our nations have not met outside the World Cup or the ICC Trophy in the United Kingdom. With such large Indian and Pakistani origin populations it will be a fantastic opportunity to play such a match in aid of such a wonderful cause.

''The game was His Royal Highness's idea and we are pleased that together with Cricket Scotland we have been able to put this into our tour of the United Kingdom,'' added Mr. Modi.

Scotland's cricket community was celebrating an unprecedented coup last night after it was confirmed that a one-off match between the two sub-continental giants would be hosted by them.

Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Cricket Scotland, said, ''Hosting one of, if not the biggest game in world cricket is a hugely exciting event for the game in Scotland. Cricket Scotland is delighted and honoured that India and Pakistan have chosen our country as the venue for this game and we look forward to working with the two countries, Glasgow City Council and The Prince's Charities to deliver a great day.

''It's fantastic news for the public to have two such games in the same week,'' said Peter Drinnen, the Scotland coach.

''It's great for Cricket Scotland to attract such a fixture as India v Pakistan, and it's tremendous for our players to get another one-day game against a full member nation. We have a big Asian population who follow the game very closely, and to have both those teams in town at the same time would be a major, significant gain for any country. It will certainly raise the profile of cricket in Scotland,'' the coach added.

The one-day international will be relayed live to billions across the Asian subcontinent by Zee TV, and will also attract Scotland's largest cricket crowd since the 1999 World Cup, with 5,000 tickets on sale at 44 pounds each via a ballot and a corporate-hospitality capacity at Titwood of 1,000.

UNI