29 February 2004	Sunday	08 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, Feb 28: Ehsan Mani, the president of International Cricket Council (ICC), will head a list of dignitaries who are especially being invited by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the ground-breaking home series against India.

Mani, a Rawalpindi-born Pakistani who lives in England, is expected to arrive in Karachi after attending the ICC's Executive Board meeting, scheduled to be held in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, to watch the opening game of the five-match One-day International series between Pakistan and India at the National Stadium on March 13.

This will be Mani's first visit to Pakistan since taking over the ICC presidency from Malcolm Gray of Australia last year.

Another prominent figure expected to visit Pakistan is Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive.

The PCB has also invited chairmen/presidents and the chief executive officers of the other nine-Test playing teams as special guests during the course of the series, which also features three Tests.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), heads a high-powered delegation from India. Also accompanying Dalmiya will be S.K. Nair, the BCCI secretary.