KOLKATA, Sept 9: Indian cricket board on Tuesday welcomed the government’s decision to allow India’s participation in junior tournaments involving Pakistan and hoped revival of Test cricket and one-dayers between senior sides of two arch-rivals would follow suit.

“This is a positive development. It shows the government’s positive approach (towards normalising sporting ties with Pakistan),” BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said here.

He said the board was confident about getting clearance for its proposals for holding junior level tournaments involving Pakistan.

Given the “positive signs” from the government, Dalmiya expressed hope that revival of senior level cricket ties with Pakistan would be possible in near future. “But we have to cross the bridge when it comes,” he added.

He also said the BCCI would allow U-17 team to participate in Asia Cup tournament in January next year.

“Although we have decided not to allow U-17 team to play in one-day matches, we have given the go ahead this time as we had already committed to participate in this event. But we are not going to participate from the next edition.”—PPI