India and Pakistan Look to Improve Relations with Cricket Series

Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, has confirmed the Men in Blue will play a cricket series against neighbours and rivals Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in an attempt to improve political relations between the countries. 

As reported by India Today, Modi confirmed the news during a parliamentary meeting, saying: "We have taken the decision to start a cricket series between both countries to improve our relations.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board previously announced they were hopeful the series could be resumed, even suggesting the Indian team would be welcome to tour Pakistan. But as reported by Reuters' Amlan Chakraborty, they realised the team likely wouldn't be willing to travel to Pakistan just yet, per PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan:

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"The security situation (in Pakistan) is improving fast but we know that right now India would not be able to come for a full tour," Khan told Headlines Today news channel.

"We therefore have decided that we'd play in the UAE," said Khan, adding the boards have signed a memorandum of understanding to play each other five times over eight years.

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Reuters' Mehreen Zahra-Malik was very excited to hear the news:

India dropped their bilateral cricket series with Pakistan in 2008 after several outbursts of violence but hosted their neighbours for a limited-overs series in 2012-13. According to Chakraborty, Pakistan haven't hosted an international series since 2009.

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