India, Pakistan to break deadlock at neutral venue: Ijaz Butt

Cricket will once again provide its diplomatic healing touch to India-Pakistan ties with both governments giving their go-ahead for a bilateral series at a neutral venue.

Ijaz Butt, the president of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), visited India last week and a final consent for the series was given in New Delhi. Speaking to Times of India from Butt said, "I can confirm that a go-ahead has been given for India and Pakistan to resume their cricketing ties. The only issue is now to wait for an appropriate window."

BCCI officials, however, refused comment. The decision to resume play comes soon after Pakistan's external affairs minister Hina Rabbani Khar's recent visit to India, where she discussed the possibility of cricket once again acting as a catalyst for lasting peace. However, in spite of the go-ahead, it is unlikely that the PCB and the BCCI will find a vacant slot in the international calendar this year.

After India's current one-day series against England, the Twenty20 Champions League and its qualifiers are scheduled in the month of September, followed by West Indies and England arriving here for a one-day series. Soon after, India are scheduled to leave for Australia. "Dates are a concern, at least for this year but if that's a problem, the series will be played in 2012 as early as possible," says an official.