Pakistan and India to meet (31 December 1998)

31 December 1998

Pakistan and India to meet

By Richard Bright

PAKISTAN and India will end a 10-year gap when they face each other in a Test match in Delhi next month, Indian officials said yesterday.

Pakistan will play two Tests against India and the two countries will then be joined by Sri Lanka to take part in the inaugural Asian Test Championship.

India and Pakistan, fierce political opponents, have not faced each other in a Test series since 1989, when India toured Pakistan.

Pakistan are due to arrive on Jan 21 and after a warm-up game will play India in the first Test in Delhi from Jan 28 and the second in Kanpur or Madras from Feb 4.

They and Sri Lanka will then play in the Asian Test Championship with the final taking place on neutral territory in Dhaka from March 12.

The final will be the first Test match on neutral territory since 1912, when Australia and South Africa played three Tests in England.

Sri Lanka's opening match in the tournament, against India, will be played in Colombo. The three countries will also play a triangular one-day series from March 19 with the final in Bangalore on April 3.

Organisers have omitted Bombay as a venue because of statements by Bal Thakeray, leader of the Hindu right wing Shiv Sena party, who is opposed to Pakistan tours.

Thakeray has said India should not play against Pakistan while their soldiers were dying in border skirmishes between the two countries.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk)

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