India seek Pakistan solution

Relations between the India and Pakistan players is good

The Indian cricket board is to ask the government to allow the national side to play Pakistan at neutral venues.

In 2000, the Indian government banned matches between the two sides, other than in multi-country events, because of political tensions between the countries surrounding the disputed state of Kashmir.

And last month, the government rejected a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) request to resume bilateral matches with Pakistan after the board said the team would otherwise be isolated from world cricket.

A senior member of the BCCI representative has revealed the governing body will now request that matches be played at neutral venues.

"We will soon request the Prime Minister to consider allowing matches against Pakistan in neutral venues," said Rajiv Shukla.

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya is expected to discuss the issue with his Pakistan counterpart Tauqir Zia next week in Dubai during an Asian Cricket Foundation (ACF) meeting.

"We will be happy if the government allows us to play at least in neutral venues," said BCCI secretary Karunakaran Nair. "We want to somehow resume bilateral cricket."

Nair said senior board members would discuss the issue by the end of May.