Indian cricket team to have heavy schedule after Bangladesh tour

MUMBAI: The Indian cricket team has a packed playing schedule after it returns from the short trip to Bangladesh next month with a series against Pakistan also scheduled in December, as per the ICC's Future Tours Programme.

Asked specifically about the revival of a full bilateral series against arch-foes Pakistan featuring Tests, ODIs and T20s, Cricket Board secretary Anurag Thakur said a lot of things were needed to fall in place for it to happen.

"The Pakistan Board chief (Shahrayar Khan) came to India, met me in Delhi. He then went to Kolkata and met Mr (Jagmohan) Dalmiya and met me again on his way back in Delhi. We are supposed to play a series in December as per FTP but we are still at the discussion stage. There are many things to be decided. Once it's all decided we will let you know," he said.

However, even without this engagement, India's playing schedule is packed, according to BCCI sources.

After next month's tour of Bangladesh, where the team will play one Test and three ODIs, the Indian team is set to leave for Zimbabwe in July to play a bilateral series comprising three ODIs and two T20s.

This is to be followed by a short visit to Sri Lanka to engage the island nation in a best-of-three Test series in August.

The South African team is set to visit India in late September to play a series of four Tests, five ODIs and three T20 games that will keep the team occupied till the end of November.

The long-awaited series against Pakistan is possible in December after which the Indian team would travel to Australia to play a bilateral series featuring five ODIs and three T20s in January, 2016.

Sri Lanka would visit India in February for a best-of-three T20 series which will be followed by the Asia Cup which has become a T20 format tournament and would be conducted by the ICC.

Finally, the World T20 Championship will keep the Indian team busy from March 11 to April 3.