ISLAMABAD, July 18: President Asif Ali Zardari sent on Wednesday a letter to Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh welcoming resumption of cricket relations between the two countries after five years.

The president in his letter expressed the hope that the resumption of cricketing ties would prove to be a formidable confidence-building measure and a way forward to encouraging people-to-people contacts, President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar quoted the president as saying.

The letter has been sent through the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

President Zardari said the resumption of cricket matches would add to positive atmosphere witnessed by the two countries after resumption of bilateral dialogue.

The letter said: “You would recall that in my recent visit to India, we discussed resumption of cricket ties between Pakistan and India. I am glad to learn that the cricket boards of Pakistan and India have agreed to resume cricket matches after a gap of five years.

“I am sanguine that cricket matches between our two countries would prove to be a formidable confidence building measure and a way forward towards encouraging people-to-people contacts.