In welcoming the announcement that India and Pakistan will resume cricketing contact at a level below full international status, ICC President Ehsan Mani said that he hoped that this initiative would lead to the resumption of full international cricket between the two countries.

"India and Pakistan on the cricket field is one of the world's great sporting rivalries," said Mani.

"The announcement that these two powerful cricketing nations will again meet on the field, albeit at a level below full international status, is a welcome step along the path to the resumption of full cricketing ties between the countries.

"When these two teams met in the 2003 World Cup the passion that the match generated and its ability to have a positive impact on people in both nations was apparent.

"Cricket, like all sport, has the capacity to promote understanding and generate goodwill and I would urge the political leaders in both countries to allow the game of cricket to assist in building relations between these two nations rather than being used for a political purpose."

On Tuesday Pakistan's cricket supremo had welcomed the rapprochement between the two countries, though he requested that the Asian Cricket Council alter the schedule for the four-nation junior level tournament involving India.

He explained his reason because it clashes with major cricket events to be hosted by the country in the same period,

"We welcome India's participation in the event as the first step towards resuming cricketing ties but want the event to be rescheduled from September to November this year," PCB chief Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia said.

Pakistan is due to host senior teams from Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand in a hectic home season from August to November this year.