Cricket: Pakistan government gives clearance for series with India in Sri Lanka

LAHORE (AFP) - Pakistan cricket authorities on Friday confirmed they had received the green light from the government to play a series against arch-rivals India to be hosted in Sri Lanka next month.

The decision came after a meeting between the heads of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday in Dubai, where both the countries agreed to stage a short limited-overs series in Sri Lanka.

"PCB has received a decision by the government of Pakistan, accepting the resumption of Pak-India cricket series in December 2015-January 2016 with matches in Sri Lanka," said a PCB statement.

The details of the proposed series will be announced once the BCCI gets approval from New Delhi, the PCB added.

India had halted the series with its rivals in the aftermath of the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai, which was blamed on militants based in Pakistan.

The two countries last played a full series in 2007 and though Pakistan toured India for a short limited-overs series late in 2012, that failed to revive cricket ties.

Last year PCB and BCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to play six series between 2015-2023, all subject to clearance from their respective governments.

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