ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India will revive cricketing ties next year after agreeing on Friday to play six series from 2015 until 2023.
Pakistan toured India in late 2012 for a short limited-overs series, but they have not played in a full bilateral series since the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008. India last toured Pakistan in 2006.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said it will host India in December 2015. The United Arab Emirates, Pakistan's "home" since 2009, will likely stage the series.
No foreign cricket team has toured Pakistan due to security concerns since gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team convoy in Lahore in March 2009. Since then, Pakistan has hosted almost all its home series in the UAE cities of Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
"We are delighted to announce the revival of Pakistan-India series, which we wish to hold on a regular basis," PCB chairman Najam Sethi said in a statement.
Officials from both countries met on the sidelines of the International Cricket Council conference in Melbourne, and signed a memorandum of understanding.
Pakistan agreed to constitutional changes in the ICC on condition it will play more frequent bilateral series against India which could generate more than half of its $300 million expected revenue from 2015-23.
No other contest in world cricket was as exciting as India vs. Pakistan, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel boasted.
"These tours," he said, "promise to be one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world."
