Ind-Pak clash slated for September

The two Asian cricket giants India and Pakistan will clash in September in the 2nd Asian Test Championship if the decks are cleared during the forthcoming Agra Summit.

India and Pakistan last met in Bangladash in the Asia Cup 2000. Since then the 1983 champions have refused to play against Pakistan following the Kargil war.

India will go Lahore in September to play Pakistan their first match of the tournament and take on minnows Bangladesh on home ground the same month. India will also host Sri Lanka for their last league match in February next year.

The event gets rolling on August 29 with reigning champions Pakistan hosting Bangladesh.

While four matches of the Championship are to be played in August-September this year, the remaining three including the final will be played in January-February next year.

The venue for the final has, however, not been decided yet.

The matches will be organised by the the Asian Cricket Foundation on behalf of the Asian Cricket Council.

The following is the schedule:
Aug 29-Sep 2: Pakistan v Bangladesh (Pakistan)
Sep 6-10: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh (Sri Lanka).
Sep 12-16: Pakistan v India (Pakistan).
Sep 20-24: India v Bangladesh (India).
Jan 31-Feb 4: Pakistan v Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka)
Feb 8-12: India v Sri Lanka (India).
Feb 15-19: Final (venue yet to be decided).

Mail Cricket Editor