08 March 2005	Tuesday	26 Muharram 1426

ISLAMABAD, March 7: Pakistan Television (PTV) will telecast live India-Pakistan cricket series after reaching an agreement with a private Indian TV channel, Federal Minister for Information and Media Development, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Monday.

PTV will pay $650,000 to Sony TV to telecast live much talked about cricket series between the arch-rivals, starting today (Tuesday) at Mohali, the minister said. Earlier, Ptv was asked to pay $11 million to get the rights of series.

"Even though it is an expensive contract, however, keeping in mind the magnitude of importance of this cricket series for people in Pakistan, the Ptv has accepted it," he said.

He said Radio Pakistan will also broadcast the live commentary on the matches. In response to a question, the information minister said: "I do not have any information regarding President General Pervez Musharraf's visit to India during the cricket series.

"However, if he would decide to go, it will be announced later on." To another question, he said: "I will go to India in my personal capacity to watch two one-day matches, scheduled to be held at Kanpur and Delhi, for which I have already applied for leave."