ICC guarantees Indo-Pak series every two years

International Cricket Council has guaranteed that India and Pakistan would play a bilateral series after every two years even if were to be held at neutral venues, according to PCB chairman Ejaz Butt.

Butt said in Johannesburg where he has gone to attend the ICC Executive Board meeting that Pakistan and India would play four series in the coming eight years.

"The ICC has given guarantee for the series that would be organised after every two years. They have also accepted that the series could be organised at neutral venues till the time the situation improves in Pakistan," Butt said.

The PCB chairman in the report also thanked the Pakistan government for supporting the idea. "I am grateful to our government for its support.

They have accepted our request to host this important series at neutral venue.

Pakistan ambassador to India Shahid Malik has played very important role in this," he told The News.

Butt also indicated that England may host the first ever Pakistan-India series in the coming summer.

"This series has the potential of revenue generation and is one of the main attractions for the sponsors," he said.

After initially refusing any bilateral series against Pakistan in the new Future Tours Programme that runs from 2012 to 2020, the Indian Cricket Board agreed to series against Pakistan in the revised FTP draft, according to the PCB. Pakistan had lodged a protest with the ICC and refused to accept an FTP without bilateral series with India.