At the moment it is inconceivable to think that India will take on Pakistan on the cricket field. But the International Cricket Council, while planning the schedule of cricket contests for the next ten years at the meeting in Melbourne on Sunday, lined up the two countries to play six series during the period.

According to the schedule, India will visit Pakistan in April 2003 while Pakistan will make the return visit in February 2004. India then tours Pakistan again in February 2005 and plays host in January next year. India is next scheduled to tour Pakistan in March 2009 and plays host in January 2011.

The following is the programme for the Indian team for the next ten years:

2001: June: India tours Zimbabwe. July: India tours Sri Lanka. October: India tours South Africa. December: India hosts England.

2002: February: India hosts Zimbabwe. April: India tours West Indies. July: India tours England. October: India hosts West Indies. December: India tours New Zealand.

2003: February-March: World Cup in South Africa. April: India tours Pakistan. October: India hosts New Zealand.

2004: January: India tours Australia. February: India hosts Pakistan. April: India tours Bangladesh. September: India hosts Australia. November: India hosts South Africa.

2005: February: India tours Pakistan. April: India hosts Bangladesh. October: India tours Zimbabwe. November: India hosts Sri Lanka.

2006: January: India hosts Pakistan. February: India hosts England. May: India tours West Indies. December; India tours South Africa.

2007: February: India tours New Zealand. March-April: World Cup in West Indies. June: India tours England. October: India hosts Zimbabwe. December: India tours Australia.

2008: India hosts West Indies. July: India tours Sri Lanka. October: India hosts South Africa.

2009: January: India tours South Africa. March: India tours Pakistan. October: India hosts New Zealand. December; India hosts Sri Lanka.

2010: India hosts Sri Lanka. March; India tours West Indies. October: India hosts Australia.

2011: January: India hosts Pakistan. March: India tours Zimbabwe.

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