June 24, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 08, 1428

KARACHI, June 23: Pakistan cricket chief said on Saturday that his country was eager to play one-day matches with arch-rivals India at neutral overseas venues, primarily in North America.

“Pakistan is eager to squeeze a one-day event at offshore venue and large number of Pakistani and Indian people in North American countries demand for such events,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters.

Dr Nasim said discussions were underway to play at least one event per year at a neutral venue.

The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours started playing each other at cricket again three years ago after their sometimes tense relations improved.

India had severed cricket ties in 2000.

They are due to play a One-day International in Glasgow, Scotland on July 3, aiming to raise funds for charity.

Pakistan and India regularly played at neutral sites previously, most notably in Sharjah. They also played two tournaments in Toronto in 1996 and 1997.

Dr Nasim said India wanted to sign an agreement last year but the PCB at the time turned down the offer.

“India wanted us to sign an agreement on playing events offshore but understandably some of our players wanted proper breaks between series and did not want offshore events.”

He said Pakistan's refusal prompted India to sign such agreements with Australia and South Africa. “We need to find time slots for such events and hopefully we can arrange an event on the lines of Toronto event by next year.”—AFP