Indian tour of Pakistan from March 10

The Indian cricket team will begin its Pakistan tour on March 10 and will play three Tests and five one-dayers.

The team will not play any Test match in Karachi and Peshawar, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya said at Kolkata on Saturday.

The tour will begin with the one-day series preceded by a warm-up match on March 11.

The first one-day international will be played at Karachi on March 13 followed by the second at Rawalpindi on March 16.

The next one-dayer will be at Peshawar on March 19 and Lahore will be the venue for the last two matches of the series on March 21 and 24.

During the 40-day tour, the first Test will be played at Multan between March 28 to April one, the second at Lahore between April 5 to April 9 and the third at Rawalpindi from April 13 to April 17.

The team will return on April 18.

Announcing this Dalmiya said: "We could not accomodate Karachi and Peshawar in the Test series. But we hope in future these venues will considered for Test matches."

The team for the tour will be selected on March 3.

"The team will then assemble on March 8 at New Delhi where the Home Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry will brief the players," Dalmiya said.

Asked why the one-dayers preceded the Test series, he said there were two reasons for holding the limited-over series first.

"The team has come from Australia after a one-day series so it would be easier for them to adjust. We understand the importance of the elections and drew up the itinerary so that there is minimum interference with the election process," Dalmiya said.

Dalmiya said that visa rules would be relaxed to enable Indian cricket lovers to visit Pakistan for the series.

"Both the governments are working out details to make the visa procedures easier for the fans wishing to visit Pakistan," he said.

The Board chief said the BCCI took into consideration the recommendations of the Home Ministry while finalising the itinerary for the historic tour.

"As desired by the Home Ministry security officials would accompany the team to Pakistan. But their job would be limited to co-ordination and liaison only."

Dalmiya also said the Indian players can take their families with them from the beginning of the tour although the BCCI generally allows them to join the players in the second part of an overseas series.