India likely to play Test in Karachi

Karachi fans urging India to play in Karachi in 2004: They may not have to resort to such measures this year © Getty Images

India are likely to play a Test in Karachi during their tour of Pakistan early next year. Natwar Singh, India's foreign minister, expressed no reservations regarding India playing a Test there during a recent visit to Pakistan.

Shaharyar Khan, chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, told PTI he met Singh at a social gathering and discussed the issue informally. "It was not a formal [meeting], but a social gathering and I found a little time to discuss cricket. I was told by Singh that the Indian government has no reservations about India playing a Test in Karachi. I think it is a big development and although the official confirmation has to come from the Indian board, I am now quite certain that India will play in Karachi."

Shaharyar added, "Actually, Natwar said the decision has to be taken by the BCCI. The government approval to BCCI was delayed due to the sad demise of Sunil Dutt, the Indian sports minister."

When India toured Pakistan in 2004, Shaharyar and Rameez Raja, then chief executive of the board, played crucial roles in convincing India to play at least one ODI at Karachi. And despite Sri Lanka playing a Test match in the port city in November last year, the venue's status remained under a cloud, especially after England refused to play a Test match there on their forthcoming winter tour, which gets underway from October 26.

The Indian cricket team are expected to arrive in Lahore on January 2 and play a two-day warm-up match before the first Test starts in Karachi, tentatively scheduled for January 7.