Now, a first-class first for Indo-Pak cricket

Cross-border cricket flourishes like never before. A season in which Punjab have hired former Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam could begin with ...

Cross-border cricket flourishes like never before. A season in which Punjab have hired former Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam could begin with the domestic champions of both countries squaring up in a first-class match 8212; and could end with the two top schools having a similar encounter.

The idea, floated by the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB and accepted 8216;8216;in principle8217;8217; by the BCCI, will see Ranji champs Mumbai8217;s take on Faisalabad, holders of the Quaid-E-Azam Trophy, in the first of an annual four-day fixture, to be alternately held in both countries, between the champion first-class teams.

While that match should be held in the next six weeks, the tie between the national school champions may take longer to work out because the Pakistani champions are yet to be identified.

Speaking to The Indian Express from his Karachi residence, PCB chief Shahryar Khan 8212; whose idea this is 8212; said only the details remained to be worked out. 8216;8216;I spoke to Mr Dalmiya about two-three months ago and also wrote to him regarding this idea. Now only the dates and venue has to be worked out,8217;8217; he said.

Pakistan, he said, was 8216;8216;ready to host8217;8217; the first match. 8216;8216;Faisalabad, our champions, also have a Test centre, so we will be more than glad to host this match. We are looking for a sponsor but even if don8217;t get one we will go ahead with idea,8217;8217; said Khan.

nbsp;	DOMESTIC DUELS

		nbsp;	8226; The last time Indian and Pakistani first-class sides played was a one-day match in 1991-92 at Delhi8217;s Kotla Stadium between Wills XI led by Azhar and Miandad8217;s Habib Bank XI in the Super Wills Cup 8212; a match between winners of one-day Wills Trophy in the two countries. 8226; In 1989-90, Madan Lal8217;s Delhi side crossed over to Pakistan as India8217;s one-day champions and played a similar match against a Sikander Bakht-led United Bank team at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.	nbsp;

Ratnakar Shetty, joint secretary of both the BCCI and the Mumbai Cricket Association, confirmed the Board had received a written proposal from Khan and said it would be discussed by the working committee.

8216;8216;I really hope, for the sake of Mumbai cricket, that this proposal comes through. I will be really happy if it does fructify. It will be an honour to undertake the trip and be the first team,8217;8217; said Shetty.

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According to Khan, the response from the Indian side has been 8216;8216;positive and very encouraging8217;8217;. 8216;8216;There is a broad agreement and once we formalise the idea, we can go ahead,8217;8217; he said.

The fixture was necessary, Khan added, for reasons other than bilateral peace too.

8216;8216;It is what we Pakistan require for the well-being of our domestic cricket. Our programme is just getting set, unlike your Ranji Trophy, which is very well-organised.8217;8217;