NEW DELHI, Nov 1: Pakistan will open their first limited-overs series in India for five years with a Twenty20 International in Bangalore on Dec 25, the Indian cricket board announced on Thursday.

The tourists will play one more Twenty20 International in Ahmedabad on Dec 27 before a three-match One-day International series starts in Chennai on Dec 30, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.

Kolkata and Delhi will be the venue for the other two One-day Internationals, the Indian board said after securing government clearance on Wednesday to host Pakistan.

The rivals have not played a series since Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007, after cricket ties were broken following the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.

The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have met only in international tournaments since the start of 2008 after the last bilateral series between the two sides was Pakistan’s tour of India in November/December 2007.

The Asian arch-rivals clashed in the 50-over World Cup semi-final in Mohali last year, a high-profiled match that was attended by both countries’ prime ministers.

India and Pakistan also played during the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March this year with both matches being won by India.

The India-Pakistan series will be held when the visiting England take a break for Christmas from their ongoing tour of India. England play four Tests and two Twenty20 games in November/December. They return to play five One-day Internationals in January.

Schedule:

Dec 22: Arrive in Bangalore. Dec 25: First Twenty20 International (Bangalore, D/N). Dec 27: Second Twenty20 International (Ahmedabad, D/N). Dec 30: First One-day International (Chennai). Jan 3: Second One-day International (Kolkata). Jan 6: Third One-day International (Delhi). Jan 7: Leave for home.—Agencies