In an effort to build on the goodwill generated in the just concluded Indo-Pak series, cricket stars from the two countries will come together again, this time in the UAE, for a 50-over exhibition match on May 6.
The day-night match promises to be a visual treat for fans in Dubai as it will bring together retired cricketers like Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, Ejaz Ahmed, Robin Singh and current stars like Ashish Nehra, Shahid Afridi, Akash Chopra and Murali Kartik, Duabi daily Khaleej Times reported on Thursday.
The Indian team will also include off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who missed the Indo-Pak series due to a finger injury.
The Pakistan team is most likely to be led by the legendary Akram, the only player in the world to have claimed more than 400 wickets in both versions of the game.
The match is scheduled to be held at the Al Wasl Stadium.
"With both the sides comprising leading past and present players, we expect the match to produce quality cricket," said Roop Razdan, one of the coordinators for the event.
"The inclusion of superstars like Akram, Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar, who all called it quits recently, will add glamour to a side which also consists of current national team players like Taufeeq Umer, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Imran Farhat, Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi," said Razdan.
"Tickets for the match will be reasonably priced so that every fan can afford these," Roop said.
Teams (likely):
India: Aakash Chopra, Ajay Jadeja, Rohan Gavaskar, Hemang Badani, Sanjay Bangar, Robin Singh, Murali Kartik, Nayan Mongia, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Atul Wasan, Sunil Joshi and Harbhajan Singh.
Pakistan: Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, Taufeeq Umer, Ejaz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Waqar Younis, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Zahid and Umar Gul.