KARACHI, Feb 23: Pakistan has stepped up efforts to revive annual golf competitions with India after New Delhi agreed to resume sporting ties and send its cricket team to Pakistan, an official said on Monday.

"Pakistan and India used to play for the Krilosker Trophy initiated in 1992 but after three tours from Pakistan and two by India the series was halted," Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) president Lt Gen Mohammad Tariq said on Monday.

"With both countries on the talk tables and cricket about to be revived we hope that golf would once again be on the greens," the general said. Four Indian golfers participated in Pakistan's national championship held in here from Feb 19-22. The visit was the first by Indian golfers for seven years.

"The Indian golfers were here for nearly a week and enjoyed their stay without any security fears so why not make it an annual event," Tariq said. The PGF chief also hoped that Pakistan would propose that golf be included in the South Asian Federation Games due to be held in Islamabad from March 29 to April 7 this year.

Indian captain Jaideep Parwardhan called his visit "memorable" and said Indian golfers will do their part to revive the golf series between the two countries.

Amateur golfers from Bangladesh, India, Iran, Sri Lanka and hosts Pakistan competed in the championship, with the individual title won by Sri Lankan Lalith Kumara. Pakistan won the international team event while Sri Lanka won the Jayawardene Trophy which is awarded for play only between it and Pakistan. -AFP