India-Pakistan Test series to resume from December 2015

CHENNAI: The long wait for India and Pakistan to play a bilateral Test series is set to end in December 2015. The two countries will take on each other in the United Arab Emirates in a full series comprising two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and two T20 games.

As per the Future Tours and Programmes (FTP) schedule drawn up by ICC, they will play four more full-length series over the next eight years.

"There has been a proposal to resume bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan. As I understand, there has been an agreement that the two teams will play each other soon," ICC chairman N Srinivasan told TOI on Friday.

The BCCI brass confirmed the news. "We have set an eight-year plan and are working towards it," a BCCI source said.

The 2015 series is a 'home' series for Pakistan, but the matches will be played in the UAE. "As part of the restructuring of the FTP, India have agreed to play Pakistan in off-shore venues and as I understand, the BCCI working committee has agreed to it," Srinivasan said.

BCCI had earlier strongly opposed India's matches at off-shore venues, but the Indian Premier League this year in UAE was an icebreaker. "The tournament was very well organized and we are happy with the arrangements in UAE," the source added.

The last Test match between India and Pakistan was played in Bangalore in 2007.