ABU DHABI, April 18: The Indian cricket board President Sharad Pawar believes Abu Dhabi is most appropriate neutral venue for holding India-Pakistan ties and will remain one of the most preferred offshore places for conducting matches between two sides in next five years.

“Abu Dhabi is most suitable venue for two teams to play offshore and it is appreciated by both the UAE and Indian governments,” he was quoted by a news daily as saying. “It is definitely one of preferred offshore venues for having an Indo-Pak series for next five years.”

BCCI will conduct offshore matches at Abu Dhabi, US, Singapore, Canada and Kenya in next five years but Sharjah, a one-time cricket hotspot in the gulf, has been completely left out of picture.

Pawar said the venue will be discussed in near future. “We'll talk on this subject and try to resolve this matter.”

He said aim of conducting such series was to take sport to different parts of the world.

“Thinking of two cricket boards, BCCI and PCB, is to popularise sport in offshore venues such as Abu Dhabi where there is a tremendous following for the game. That's why we have sent strongest available teams for two ODIs.”—Agencies