India to resume cricket ties with Pakistan

MUMBAI,  (Reuters) – India will invite Pakistan for a short series later this year to resume bilateral cricket ties with its neighbour, the country’s cricket board (BCCI) said today.

Bilateral cricket between the nuclear-armed neighbours were snapped after the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed. India blame Pakistan-based militants.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars in the past 65 years, and the already fragile relations were further strained since the carnage when gunmen attacked two upmarket hotels, a busy railway terminal and a fashionable cafe in Mumbai.

The last series between the two sides was Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007 although Pakistan travelled to India to play the 50-over World Cup semi-final in Mohali last year.

“It was decided to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan by inviting the Pakistan cricket team for a short series in December 2012-January 2013,” the BCCI said in a statement following a working committee meeting in New Delhi.