13 May 2012

Pakistan welcome Indian cricket invitation

9:37 am on 13 May 2012

Pakistan have welcomed India's invitation to compete in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament this year, saying it could lead to a revival of cricketing ties between the two countries.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India approved Pakistan's participation in the tournament which features leading domestic T20 teams from around the world.

The Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed says participation of a Pakistan team is a positive step and hopes it could lead to a revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties.

The news was also welcomed by Shoaib Malik, captain of Pakistan's T20 champions Sialkot Stallions.

The Sialkot Stallions were meant to compete in the inaugural Champions League in 2009 but the plan fell through after the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai - blamed on Pakistan-based militants - strained relations.

The invite to the tournament, to be held in October in India, came a month after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari urged Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider reviving cricket ties, during a private visit to New Delhi.