NEW DELHI, March 7: India’s national cricket board has asked the federal government to allow resumption of cricket matches with Pakistan to prevent their team being isolated from world cricket.

India are scheduled to tour Pakistan next month in line with the ICC’s 10-year programme but the series is unlikely to go ahead because of tension between the neighbours over the disputed region of Kashmir.

“Each country is supposed to play four series against each other in a 10-year period (two at home and two abroad),” Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of Indan cricket board wrote in a letter to federal sports minister Vikram Verma earlier this week.

“If India does not play against Pakistan, the equilibrium of world cricket will be severely affected because the World Test Championship cannot be decided. India may be totally isolated in the world cricket scenario,” he added.

The Indian government banned all bilateral matches between the sides in 2000 but has not been opposed to the teams playing in multi-team events at neutral venues.

Pakistan have said they are willing to host India. The ICC’s executive board is expected to discuss the issue in their meeting on March 21 in Johannesburg.

India and Pakistan played against each other for the first time in almost three years at the World Cup last week.—Reuters