LAHORE, Jan 2: The Indian government has allowed its cricket team to participate in the next Asia Cup to be held either in  Sri Lanka or Bangladesh in May this year.

Pakistan  Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lt. Gen.  Tauqir Zia said on Thursday  that the board would decide  about its participation in the Asia Cup after obtaining government clearance.

The  chairman said that the PCB had changed its policy  and would now get the government’s permission before playing in  any tournament, also being competed by India.

Tauqir remarked that efforts were still on to hold a  three-nation series in May involving England and Zimbabwe if India failed to tour Pakistan in April as per the schedule of the ICC’s  calender of activities.

He added that Pakistan would also play in  a  three-nation tournament in Sri Lanka in May. The third team is New Zealand.

He specified that Sri Lanka had cancelled its  programme  to  host Pakistan for a three test match series this year.